A! 
 
 A! 
 
 Ol 
 I 
 
 ; 
 
 8^ 
 
 7 
 6 
 1 
 
 9 
 
 Columbia, Conn. Congregat- 
 ional Church 
 
 The 150th Anniversary
 
 THE 
 
 150th anniversary 
 
 OF THK 
 
 ORaA.NIZ ATIOlsr 
 
 OF THE 
 
 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 
 
 IN 
 
 COLUMBIA, CONN., 
 
 OCTOBER 2nh, 18G6. 
 
 m.STOKICAL PAPEKy, ADDRESSES, 
 WITH APPENDIX. 
 
 HARTFORD: 
 PRINTED BY CASE, LOCKWOOD & CO., 
 
 1807.
 
 THE 
 
 150th anniversary 
 
 OF THE 
 
 oiiai^LNiz^Tioisr 
 
 OF THE 
 
 CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH 
 
 IN 
 
 COLUMBIA, CONN., 
 OCTOBER 24th, 1866. 
 
 HISTORICAL PAPERS, ADDRESSES, 
 WITH APPENDIX. 
 
 HARTFORD: 
 
 PRINTED BY CASE, LOCKWOOD & CO., 
 
 1867.
 
 TA.BLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 Historical Discourse, by Rev. F, D. Avery, - - 5 
 Tribute to the memory of Rev. Thomas Brockway, by Doct. 0. 
 
 B. Lyman, of Hartford, _ _ . « 28 
 Historical Sketch, Meeting Houses, by John S. Yeomans, 30, 31 
 
 Ministers from the Parish, by Rev. F. D. Avery, - - 37 
 Historical Sketches, — Education, Music and Miscellaneous, by 
 
 John S. Yeomans, - - - - 45, 49, 50 
 
 Address, by Rev. Charles Little of Woodbury, - 55 
 
 Moor's Indian Charity School, by Rev. F. D. Avery, - 58 
 Tribute to the Memory of Doctor E. Wheelock, founder of 
 
 Moor's Charity School and Dartmouth College, by Doct. 0. 
 
 B. Lyman, Hartford, ----- 70 
 
 Statements and Statistics, by Rev. W. H. Moore, of Berlin, 72 
 
 Appendix, --._-- 75 
 Proceedings, Order of Exercises, Collation, &c., - 76, 81 
 
 Copy of Original Petition of the people to be set off a Society, 81 
 Copy of a Rate Bill for the North Parish of Lebanon, (now 
 
 Columbia,) for the year 1741, to pay the Salary of Rev. 
 
 Eleazer Wheelock, - . - . . 83 
 
 Catalogue of Present Members of the Church, - 86 
 
 Catalogue of the Present Members of the Society, - 88 
 
 Table of Statistics, by Rev. W. H. Moore, of Berlin, - 89 
 Letter from Rev. Asa D. Smith, D. D., President Dartmouth 
 
 College, New Hampshire, - - - - 90
 
 IV TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
 
 Letter from Ex-Governor Wm. A. Buckingham, Norwich, Ct., 90 
 
 Letter from Rev. Daniel Hunt, Pomfret, Conn., - - 91 
 
 Note A. Letter of the Parish to Rev. E. Wheelock, D. D., 
 
 relating to the Location of the Charity School, - - 92 
 
 Note B. Letter recommending Rev. Mr. Whitaker in his 
 
 efforts soliciting subscriptions for Moor's Charity School, 95
 
 HISTORICAL DISCOTJESE, 
 
 BY THE PASTOR, REV. FREDERICK D. AVERY. 
 
 It was just as the seventeenth century was flowing into the 
 eighteenth that the inhabitants of Lebanon completed their 
 town organization, gathered the first church and settled their 
 first minister. Sixteen years after, in 1716, one hundred and 
 fifty years ago, a second ecclesiastical society was constituted, 
 which was known as Lebanon North Parish, or Lebanon 
 Crank, until 1804, when Columbia became a town. 
 
 All efforts to ascertain the exact date of the organization of 
 this church have been fruitless. The time would probably 
 vary but little, if at all, from the formation of the ecclesiasti- 
 cal society. Taking the year 1716 as our stand-point, what 
 would we find to be the religious aspect of the State ? There 
 were then but four counties in the State, Hartford, New 
 Haven, New London and Fairfield. 1\\ all the State there 
 were a few Episcopal societies, one Baptist, no Methodist. 
 Of our own denomination, in what is now Hartford county, 
 there were twelve churches, where there are now fifty-one; 
 in what is now New Haven county, there were nine churches, 
 where there are now forty-nine; in what is now New London 
 county, there were eight churches, where there are now thirty- 
 four; in what is now Fairfield county, there were eleven 
 churches, where there are now thirty-six; in what is now 
 Windham county, there were six churches, where there are 
 now twenty-seven ; in what is now Middlesex county, there 
 were seven churches, where there are now twenty-six; in 
 what is now Litchfield county, there were two churches, where 
 1
 
 there are now forty-one; in what is now Tolland county, there 
 were two churches besides our own, South Mansfield and 
 South Coventry, where there are now twenty-two ; in all fifty- 
 seven churches in the State 150 years ago, where there are 
 now 286 of our own denomination, 160 Methodist, 115 Bap- 
 tist, and 130 Episcopal. 
 
 The early history of most of our old churches is very imper- 
 fectly known, for want of any thing that may properly be 
 called Records; and in this misfortune this church shares 
 largely. Of the first fifty years of the existence of this church, 
 but a few meagre pages are to be found, as its own proper 
 record at the time ; and of the next seventy years we have 
 scarcely more than the barest statistics of baptisms, admissions 
 and deaths. 
 
 The first item that has been found indicating the actual 
 existence of this church is the fact stated by Dr. Trumbull, 
 that Mr. Samuel Smith was settled here in the year 1720. 
 Mr. Smith was doubtless the first pastor. His ministry was 
 of short duration, the parish granting his request to "lay 
 down the pastoral office," December 24, 1724. He was a 
 native of Glastenbury ; was graduated at Yale College, in 
 1713, in a class of three, and was a tutor in the College. He 
 died in 1725, only five years from the time of his settlement 
 here, and twelve years after his graduation. 
 
 But one month elapsed and a call was extended to Mr. 
 William Gager, who was ordained May 27, 1725. This second 
 pastor continued his labors here nearly ten years, when the 
 termination of his pastorate is thus declared by himself, Sep- 
 tember 4, 1735 : " I, the subscriber, do by these presents 
 desist the work of the ministry in the North Society in Leba- 
 non, and release said people from all obligations they have 
 made with me as to my support and maintenance for the 
 future, and declare that I have no particular or special right 
 to officiate as a minister among them." After leaving this 
 people Mr. Gager preached one year in Eastbury. He was 
 born in 1704, the son of Samuel and Rebecca Gager ; was 
 graduated at Yale College, in 1721, and died in May, 1789, 
 aged thirty-three.
 
 The third pastor was Rev. Eleazar Wheelock. Mr. Wheel- 
 ock was born in Windham, in May, 1711, the only son of 
 Deacon Ralph Wheelock. He was graduated at Yale College, 
 in 1733, having for a class-mate Benjamin Pomeroy, who soon 
 became his much-esteemed fellow-laborer as the pastor of the 
 church in Hebron. He was licensed to preach the gospel by 
 the New Haven East Association, in 1734. He received a 
 call to settle here in February, 1735, and was ordained the 
 first Wednesday in June following. The terms of his settle- 
 ment are as follows: " Voted to give Mr. Wheelock that part 
 of the minister's farm which they reserved in their agreement 
 with Mr. Gager, which they suppose is something more than 
 twenty acres, and two hundred pounds in bills of public credit, 
 for a settlement, in case he settle in the work of the ministry 
 among us. Also, voted to give Mr. Wheelock one hundred 
 and forty pounds a year salary, to be paid in bills of public 
 credit, or in provision at the following prices; viz. wheat at 
 nine shillings per bushel, rye at seven, Indian corn at five, 
 oats at two shillings and six pence, pork at six pence a pound, 
 and beef at four ; which are to be the standard by which his 
 salary is to rise or fall proportionally as they in the general 
 rise or fall among us." 
 
 Mr. Wheelock began his ministry here just at the time 
 when commenced that marvelous work of grace in New Eng- 
 land which is termed the " Great Awakening." He entered 
 into this work from the very first, and became an earnest and 
 efficient fellow-laborer with the Rev. Jonathan Edwards. 
 Not a year had passed after his settlement before this parish 
 was beginning to receive the fruits of his faithful and well- 
 directed Itbors. Under date of 1736, stated by Jonathan 
 Edwards to be in the Spring and Summer of that year, the 
 historian brings this testimony: "The work also was very 
 great at Lebanon Crank, a parish under the ministry of Rev. Mr. 
 Wheelock, a pious young gentleman who had been then very 
 lately ordained in that place." Of the real extent and dura- 
 tion of this revival here no certain statement can be made ; 
 nor do we know that there was any other period in his minis- 
 try that was so distinctly marked by the special power of the 
 Holy Spirit.
 
 8 
 
 Such success attended the preaching of Mr. Wheelock in 
 that revival season, that he found himself, either by solicita- 
 tion or from the impulse of his own earnest soul, drawn away 
 from his own special field, to engage in like efforts with other 
 churches and ministers, yet probably without neglecting his 
 own flock. We find him in Enfield, July 8, 1741, hstening 
 to that memorable sermon of Edwards, entitled " Sinners in 
 the hands of an angry God," from the text, "Their foot shall 
 slide in due time ;" and his report of that meeting to Dr. 
 Trumbull, gives that historian this passage: "While the peo- 
 ple in the neighboring towns were in great distress for their 
 souls, the inhabitants of that town were very secure, loose and 
 vain. A lecture had been appointed at Enfield, and the 
 neighboring people, the night before, were so affected at tlie 
 thoughtlessness of the inhabitants, and in such fear that God 
 would, in his righteous judgment, pass them by, while the 
 divine showers were falling all around them, as to be prostrate 
 before him a considerable part of it, supplicating mercy for 
 their souls. When the time appointed for the lecture came, 
 a number of the neighboring ministers attended, and some 
 from a distance. When they went into the meeting-house, 
 the appearance of the assembly was thoughtless and vain. The 
 people hardly conducted themselves with common decency. 
 The Rev. Mr. Edwards, of Northampton, preached, and before 
 the sermon was ended, the assembly appeared deeply impressed 
 and bowed down, with an awful conviction of their sin and 
 danger. There was such a breathing of distress, and weep- 
 ing, that the preacher was obliged to speak to the people and 
 desire silence, that he might be heard. This was the begin- 
 ning of the same great and prevailing concern in that place, 
 with which the colony in general was visited." 
 
 Three months later we find Mr. Wheelock journeying 
 towards Boston, and he lets us trace his steps by his private 
 journal, a few notes from which will serve to show us the 
 spirit of the man, and the character of his labors. 
 
 " October 21, 1741. Rode to Yoluutown. There is a great 
 work in this town, but more of the footsteps of satan than in 
 any place I have yet been in. At their conference in the eve-
 
 9 
 
 iiing I mentioned some of the devices of satan, which I 
 apprehend they are in danger of, and heard the accounts of a 
 number of new converts. 
 
 October 22. Rose this morning refreshed; found my soul 
 stretching after God. Preached twice, with enlargement, by 
 Mr. Smith's barn, to great assemblies. Many cried out; 
 many stood trembling ; the whole assembly very solemn and 
 much aflFection ; four or five converted. 
 
 24. About two miles from Providence, met Mr. Knight and 
 another man, who came out to meet us. His first salutation 
 was, ' God bless you, my dear brother.' Rev. Mr. Cotton 
 came; invited me to preach. 
 
 25. Rode with Mr. Knight into town. Preached three 
 sermons, 2 Cor. 13, 5 ; Mark 1,2; Luke 10, ult. 
 
 30. Had a great sense of my own badness and unworthi- 
 ness, of what a cursed heart I have. Lord, let me see and 
 know more of it. Rode to Norton. Preached to a full 
 assembly; much affection and sobbing through the whole 
 assembly. 
 
 November 1. "Went with brother Byram to Taunton; 
 preached there. Appointed another meeting in the evening. 
 A great work in the town. I was forced to break off my ser- 
 mon before it was done, the outcry was so great. 
 
 November 2. Rode with a great number to Bridgewater. 
 Preached to a full assembly, in Mr. Shaw's meeting-house. 
 
 3. Rode with a great number to Mr. Perkins' meeting- 
 house. A very full assembly. So many wounded that I 
 could not leave them. Therefore preached again to a full 
 assembly. 
 
 6. Set out for Boston. Met by dear Mr. Prince and Mr. 
 Bromfield, about eight miles from Boston. Came in to Mr. 
 Bromfield's. Soon after my arrival, came the Hon. Josiah 
 Willard, Secretary, Rev. Mr. Webb, and Mr. Cooper, and 
 Major Sewal, to bid me welcome to Boston. At six o'clock 
 preached for Mr. "Webb, to a great assembly. 
 
 8. Went to Dr. Coleman's meeting ; preached with con- 
 siderable freedom. Dined with the Dr. "Went with Mr. 
 Rogers to Mr. Prince's. Preached to a full assembly. After
 
 10 
 
 meeting was followed by a great throng of children, who im- 
 portunately desired me to give them a word of exhortation in 
 a private house, which I consented to do, though I designed 
 to go and hear Mr. Prince, who, being by, desired that I would 
 have it publicly, which I consented to. 
 
 9. Visited this morning by a great number of persons 
 under soul trouble. Refused to preach because I designed to 
 go out of town. Just as I was going, came Mr. Webb and 
 told me the people were meeting together to hear another 
 sermon. I consented to preach again. A scholar from Cam- 
 bridge being present, who came to get me to go to Cambridge, 
 hastened to Cambridge, and by a little after six a great part 
 of the scholars had got to Boston. Preached to a very 
 thronged assembly, many more than could get into the house, 
 with very- great freedom and enlargement. I believe the 
 children of God were very much refreshed." 
 
 We see from these extracts how heartily Mr. Wheelock 
 entered into this new revival-work, becoming indeed one of 
 the chief leaders in it, and witnessing the same wonderful 
 results of his labors abroad in other towns, that he had just 
 before seen here at home. So constant were his efforts to 
 bring sinners to Christ, that in one year "he preached a hun- 
 dred more sermons than there are days in the year." 
 
 It might seem at times that he laid himself liable to the 
 charge of being an enthusiast, as indulging in extravagancies 
 and unwarranted hopes in respect to the character of his work. 
 Yet he was actually so far from countenancing the extreme 
 fanatics of his day, that we find one of those who were termed 
 Separatists, dealing with him thus thoroughly: — "Yet all 
 this," — afflictions and losses that he had spoken of, — "never 
 went so near to my soul as it does to hear and see the blessed 
 work and ways of the glorious God, called errors and delu- 
 sions of the devil. Pray, sir, let me deal plainly now, and 
 don't be angry. Do you think you are out of danger of com- 
 mitting the unpardonable sin against the Holy Ghost? It 
 would not surprise me much to hear that God had opened 
 the flood-gates of his wrath, and let out the horrors of con- 
 science on you, and many more of your party who deny the
 
 11 
 
 truth, so that you should die in as great despair as Judas or 
 Spira did." So much for the attack on that side. But, on 
 the other hand, many of the ministers «^f New England were 
 very apprehensive of the result of this great movement, and 
 some set themselves directly and strongly against it, caution- 
 ing their churches not to come under its influences. Mem- 
 bers were suspended from communion "for going to hear Mr. 
 Whitfield, Mr. Wheelock, Mr. Pomeroy, and otlier zealous 
 preachers." Dr. Chauncey, of Boston, in a published work, 
 represented Mr. Pomeroy and Mr. Wheelock as the principal 
 instruments of the disorders and confusions in Connecticut. 
 Between these two opposite pressures, it is quite likely that 
 the pastor of Lebanon Crank pursued his even course, looking 
 only to his Master for light and direction. There were men 
 of rashness and of very folly in the methods which they 
 adopted in that time of the Great Awakening, and with these 
 Mr. Wheelock was sometimes indiscriminately classed. But 
 one of the foremost of these men, Mr. James Davenport, 
 came to see his sin and folly, and applied to Rev. Solomon 
 Williams, of Lebanon, and Mr. Wheelock, to know what he 
 should do ; and, chiefly through the influence of these two 
 ministers of Lebanon, he was led to a public confession and 
 retraction. 
 
 Now would you know just what that preaching was which 
 stirred the souls of your fathers and mothers of that olden 
 time, and which wrought such commotion in many another 
 parish, far and near ? Listen then to the report by the his- 
 torian, Dr. Trumbull, a native of Hebron, and who "lived 
 sometime in the family of Dr. Wheelock." " The doctrines 
 preached by those famous men," Pomeroy and Wheelock, 
 " who were owned as the principal instruments of this extra- 
 ordinary revival of God's work, were the doctrines of tho 
 reformation ; the doctrine of original sin ; of regeneration by 
 the supernatural influences of the divine Spirit, and of the 
 absolute necessity of it, that any man might bear good fruit, 
 or ever be admitted into the kingdom of God ; effectual call- 
 ing; justification by faith wholly on account of the imputed 
 righteousness of Jesus Christ ; repentance toward God, and
 
 12 
 
 faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ; the perseverance of the 
 saints; the indwelling influence of the Holy Spirit in them; 
 and its divine consolations and joys." 
 
 Two of his sermons are particularly spoken of in the narra- 
 tive of those revivals, as having been attended with marked 
 results; one from the text, "What is the hope of the hypo- 
 crite though he hath gained, when God taketh away the 
 soul?" showing "how far a man might go in religion, and 
 after all be no more than a hypocrite," and then " the miser- 
 able end of the hypocrite ;" the other from the text, " He that 
 believeth and is baptized shall be saved, but he that believeth 
 not shall be damned ;" describing a " saving faith in Christ, 
 giving many distinguishing marks of it, and finally insisting 
 that all without exception, who would not believe, would most 
 certainly be damned." Not many of his sermons were written 
 in full ; as his duties and cares became more pressing he em- 
 ployed only brief notes. 
 
 Mr. Wheelock received the degree of Doctor of Divinity 
 from the University at Edinburg, June 29, 1767. 
 
 His labors in connection with Moor's Indian Charity School 
 will be noticed in another place. It was in the interests of 
 this enterprise that he deemed it best to sever his relation 
 from this people, and move, with his pupils, into the wild 
 lands of New Hampshire, where, in connection with the 
 school, Dartmouth College was founded, and Dr. Wheelock 
 became its first President. 
 
 In April, 1770, the ecclesiastical society concurred with the 
 vote of the church to submit the matter of Dr. Wheelock's 
 dismission to the decision of the western committee of the 
 association of Windham county, with which association, this 
 church, through its pastor, was then connected, and he was 
 accordingly dismissed that year, having held the pastoral office 
 thirty-five years. In August, he left for his new home in 
 Hanover, New Hampshire ; cut away the pine trees ; built a 
 log hut eighteen feet square ; in three months after had a one 
 story house for himself and family, and a two story house for 
 his College ; and in the next August a class of four young 
 men was graduated. He presided over the College, preach-
 
 IS 
 
 ing to the students and the people of the village, eight years. 
 Having been seized with epilepsy he lingered three months, 
 and, at the age of sixty-eight, died April 24, 1779, singing and 
 longing, " Though I walk through the valley of the shadow 
 of death, I will fear no evil." "1 have a desire to depart and 
 be with Christ." 
 
 Dr. Wheelock is described as "of middle stature and size, 
 well proportioned, erect and dignified. His features were 
 prominent, his eyes a light blue and animated. His com- 
 plexion was fair, and the general expression of his counten- 
 ance pleasing and handsome. His voice was remarkably full, 
 harmonious and commanding. His movements while in the 
 desk were natural and impressive, and his eloquence irresist" 
 ible. His preaching and addresses were close and pungent, 
 and ,yet winning beyond almost all comparison, so that his 
 audience would be melted even into tears before they were 
 aware of it." 
 
 He was first married in April, 1735, to Mrs. Sarah Maltby, 
 widow of Capt, William Maltby, of New Haven, and daughter 
 of Rev. John Davenport, of Stamford. She died in this place 
 November 13, 1746, at the age of forty-three, and her grave 
 is to be found near the center of the old cemetery. Her 
 daughter Ruth was married to Rev. William Patten, of Hart- 
 ford, and there are those still witli us who remember Mrs. 
 Patten in her old age, in Hartford, and who listened to her 
 interested inquiries about Lebanon Crank. The second wife 
 of Dr. Wheelock was Miss Mary Brinsmade, of Milford. They 
 liad five children ; Mary, who married Bezaleel Woodward^ 
 first Professor of Mathematics in Dartmouth College; Abigail, 
 who married Rev. Sylvanus Ripley, one of the first four grad- 
 uates, and first Professor of Theology in the same institution ; 
 John, also of the first class, and successor of his father in the 
 Presidency, nearly forty years; Col. Eleazer Wheelock and 
 James Wheelock. Two sons by his first wife, both bearing 
 his njime, died in infancy, and are buried by the side of the 
 mother. 
 
 Tlie publications of Dr. Wheelock arc, " A Narrative of the 
 Indian Charity School at Lebanon," 1702; a Sermon at the 
 2
 
 14 
 
 Ordination of Charles Jeffrey Smith, 1763; "Narratives" in 
 several numbers from 1763 to 1771; "Continuation of the 
 Narrative," 1773; A Sermon on "Liberty of Conscience, or 
 no king but Clirist in the church," 1775. His Memoirs, by 
 Drs. McClure and Parish, were published in 1811. 
 
 In a scrap of Church Record which has been furnished from 
 Dr. Wheelock's old papers by Rev. William Allen, D. D., of 
 Northampton, who married his grand-daughter, we have the 
 following item : " At a meeting of the brethren of the church 
 of Christ in Lebanon North Parish, February 14, A. D. 
 1737-8, the church then voted that they would choose a com- 
 petent number of the most judicious, prudent and skillful of 
 the brethren of the church, and set them apart for, and com- 
 mit to them, the management of all affairs in church govern- 
 ment, in all ordinary cases, and appoint them to examine, try 
 and judge of the same in their name and behalf, under the 
 conduct of their minister or pastor, and to advise, assist and 
 help him in any matters wherein he shall desire or require 
 their help and assistance ; and pursuant to this vote this 
 church made choice of these brethren, in the order following, 
 to represent them: Deacon John Newcomb, Deacon Joseph 
 Clark, Captain Ephraim Sprague, Mr. James Wright, Mr. 
 Nehemiah Clossen, Mr. Josiah Lyman, Mr. Thomas Wood- 
 ward, Lieutenant Henry Woodward, Ensign John Daggett." 
 How long this Church Council, as it was called, was kept in 
 existence can not be determined, but since it appears to have 
 come into disfavor with some very soon, it is quite probable 
 that it was discontinued before the close of Dr. Wheelock's 
 pastorate. 
 
 A little more than two years passed and the fourth pastor 
 was settled. Rev. Thomas Brockway. Mr. Brockway was 
 born in Lyme, in the year 1744. He was graduated at Yale 
 College, in 1768. 
 
 In January, 1772, he received a call to settle over this 
 church and society. The terms of his settlement were as fol- 
 lows: "Voted to give Mr. Thomas Brockway two hundred 
 pounds settlement, one hundred to be paid at the end of the 
 first year, and fifty pounds at the end of each of the two fol-
 
 15 
 
 lowing years. Also, to give him ninety pounds salary, and to 
 get him as many cords of wood yearly, at six shillings a cord, 
 as he desires, not exceeding thirty cords, to be redacted out 
 of the above ninety pounds." 
 
 He was ordained the 24th of June, 1772. The Wednesday 
 previous was observed as a day of fasting and prayer with 
 reference to the occasion. A person was chosen " in behalf 
 of the church and society to return thanks to the Reverend 
 Council for their kind assistance in ordaining Mr. Brockway." 
 The ministers invited on the Council were, Rev. Messrs. Sol- 
 omon Williams, of Lebanon; Timothy Stone, of Goshen; 
 Joseph Huntington, of Soutli Coventry; Benjamin Pomeroy, 
 of Hebron; Samuel Lockwood, of Andover; George Beck- 
 with and Stephen Johnson. The sermon was preached by 
 Rev. Samuel Clark, of Kensington, from 2 Cor. 4, 1, which, 
 in accordance with a vote of the society, was published. 
 
 The earliest Church Records, of any extent, are in the 
 hand-writing of Mr. Brockway, commencing with his settle- 
 ment. When he began his ministry, tlie church consisted 
 of sixty-nine members; thirty -two males, and thirty-seven 
 females. He was with this people during the troublous times 
 of war, when the life of some of our churches, as well as of 
 many of our noble-hearted patriots, was put in jeopardy. He 
 was ready to share with his people in their pecuniary strug- 
 gles, proposing " to give in fifteen pounds a year till the enemy 
 withdrew, and ten pounds a year till the Continental debt be 
 paid." But this was not enough. As soon as the news of the 
 burning of New London reached tliis place, " he started off 
 with his long gun and deacons and parishioners to assist in 
 doing battle with tlie enemy." 
 
 The seasons of special religious interest during liis ministry 
 will be noticed in his own words, taken from an account pub- 
 lished near tlie close of his life, in April, 1803, in the Con- 
 necticut Evangelical Magazine. "Compared with other ac- 
 counts, I have little to say, yet on the score of sovereign 
 grace, and the almighty power of the divine Spirit, in subdu- 
 ing the sinner, I have much to say. I can bear the same tes- 
 timony with those that have labored in a larger field, that
 
 16 
 
 with the Lord there is mercy, and with him is plenteous 
 redemption. In the year 1781, it pleased God to revive his 
 work among us ; a special attention and uncommon serio\is- 
 ness seemed to prevail in all parts of the society; and the 
 happy effects for many years were sensibly felt. At that sea- 
 son there were upwards of thirty added to the church. After 
 that, there was nothing special took place, except in individual 
 cases, for twenty years; during which period the spirit of 
 vital religion was reduced to a very languid state. This will 
 ever be the case without fresh anointings from the Spirit. 
 Toward the latter end of March, in the year 1801, two or 
 three pious people agreed to meet and pray for a revival of 
 religion among us. This was soon discovered and others 
 joined. The numbers increased weekly, and in the May and 
 June following, our meetings became crowded, and the Spirit 
 of God in the conviction of a number was evidently seen 
 among us. A public lecture was appointed, in which I was 
 favored T\ath the kind assistance of my brethren in the minis- 
 try. Our conferences were attended three or four times in 
 the week ; but the most crowded, and that which discovered 
 most of the power of the Spirit was on Thursday in the after- 
 noon. During this period religion appeared not to be a sec- 
 ondary object, but the one thing needful. Sabbaths seemed 
 too far distant, and the appointed seasons of conference were 
 waited for with anticipated delight. The work, however, was 
 far from being general among the people. There were some 
 from almost every part of the society ; and some families so 
 peculiarly distinguished, that it might almost be said of them 
 as of the favored house at which our Lord when in the flesh 
 so often called, that they were all friends to Jesus. To the 
 serious, contemplative mind, there was a striking display of 
 the sovereign, discriminating grace of God. While one family 
 was wholly occupied with the concerns of tlie soul, perhaps a 
 few rods at the next door, nothing of it was to be seen; they 
 were wholly unmoved, unless with a spirit of opposition. The 
 work, in its early stage, took deep hold of professors. They 
 seemed to awake as from sleep, and the prosperity of Zion was 
 the object of their united prayers. Love to one another, and
 
 17 
 
 zeal for the cause animated them, with but few exceptions. 
 Tlie still small voice has characterized the work from the 
 beginning, without any thing of an opposite nature." 
 
 One still remains with us who was a subject of that revival 
 of 1801, and united with the church that year, whose wife, — 
 also a subject and uniting with the church then, — has passed 
 away during the present year. Thirty-five were added to tlie 
 church as the fruits of that revival. The whole number 
 admitted to the church during Mr. Brockway's ministry was 
 139, of whom twenty-nine were by letter. 
 
 Having been ill and not able to preach for a few weeks, he 
 went to Lyme, his native place, for the benefit of his health, 
 and there he died suddenly on the night of the fourth of July, 
 1807. His body was brought to Columbia, and on Monday 
 the sixth, the funeral was attended by a large concourse of 
 people. The sermon was preached by Rev. Zebulon Ely, of 
 Lebanon, from Hebrews 13 : 7, 8, " Remember them which 
 have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word 
 of God, whose faith follow, considering the end of their con- 
 versation, Jesus Christ, the same yesterday and to day and 
 forever." And some there are still with us who do " remem- 
 ber," with reverence, with esteem and with affection, that holy 
 man of God, who "ruled over" them so gently and with such 
 a tender care for the flock, whose words were spoken as by 
 the servant of God, and whose ministry was manifestly accept- 
 able to the Great Head of the Church. 
 
 His pastorate was just the same number of years as Dr. 
 Wheelock's, thirty-five. He died at the age of sixty-two, and 
 you read upon his tomb-stone in yonder cemetery, — " As an 
 husband, he was tender; as a father, affectionate; and as a 
 friend, sincere. As a minister of Christ, he shunned not to 
 declare all the counsel of God, and was wise in turning men 
 to rigliteousness." 
 
 Mr. Brockway married Eunice Lathrop, of Norwich, Decem- 
 ber 18, 1772. They had thirteen children, three sons and 
 ten daughters ; two of wiiom, a son and daughter are buried 
 by the side of the father. Mrs. Brockway died in 1823. 
 
 He published an epic poem, entitled " The Gospel Tragedy,"
 
 18 
 
 in 1795 ; a sermon on " Virtue its own rewarder," in 1795 ; 
 and one at the ordination of Bezaleel Pinneo. in Milford, 
 October 26, 1796, from Colossians 1 : 26, 27. 
 
 Nearly four years elapsed before the fifth pastor was settled, 
 Rev. Thomas Rich. Mr. Rich was born in Warren, Massa- 
 chusetts, February 9, 1775, and was graduated at Dartmouth 
 College, in 1799. He was ordained pastor of the church in 
 Westbrook, June 13, 1804, from which church he was dis- 
 missed September 5, 1810. He was installed pastor of this 
 church and society March 6, 1811. The sermon was preached 
 by Rev. Salmon Cone, of Colchester. 
 
 During his ministry, in June, 1814, the church adopted a 
 form of Covenant and Confession of Faith. Near the close of 
 his ministry, in the year 1816, a season of revival was enjoyed, 
 as the fruits of which forty-six were added to the church. He 
 was dismissed June 13, 1817, having been pastor but six years. 
 He afterwards preached in Sharon, Massachusetts, and in 
 Salisbury, Massachusetts, and died in Amesbury, September, 
 1836, at the age of sixty-one. 
 
 The sixth pastor was Rev. AVilliam Burton. He was born 
 in Washington, Vermont, and was graduated at Dartmouth 
 College, in 1815. He was ordained here February 24, 1818; 
 sermon by Rev. Chauncey Booth, of South Coventry. He 
 preached but a few times, holding the pastoral office only six- 
 teen months, and was dismissed June 23, 1819. From here 
 he went to the southern states, but spent the chief part of his 
 life preaching in Ohio, where he died in 1858. 
 
 The seventh pastor was Rev. David Dickinson. He was 
 born in Conway, Massachusetts, July 22, 1770. He was first 
 engaged in the medical profession for six years. After enter- 
 ing the ministry he was settled in Plainfield, New Hampshire, 
 for eighteen years. He was installed here January 19, 1820. 
 The churches invited on the Council were, Hebron, third 
 church in Chatham, (now East Hampton,) Ellington, Exeter, 
 South Coventry, and Andover. The sermon was preached 
 by Rev. Amos Bassett, D. D., of Hebron; charge to the pastor, 
 by Rev. Joel West, of Chatham ; right hand of fellowship, by
 
 19 
 
 Rev. Chauncey Booth, of South Coventry; and address to the 
 people, by Rev. Diodate Brockway, of Ellington. 
 
 In the early part of Mr. Dickinson's ministry there were 
 marked indications of the presence of the Holy Spirit, and his 
 labors were blessed in many hopeful conversions, so that in 
 the year 1821 there were added to the church by profession, 
 twenty-three, and fifteen in each of the years 1823 and 1825. 
 But in 1831, there was a more extensive and powerful work 
 of divine grace ; this church sharing largely in the blessing 
 which was so widely experienced throughout the State. In 
 that year forty-one were added to the chvirch by profession. 
 The whole number added during his ministry of seventeen 
 years, was 123, of whom twenty united by letter. He was 
 dismissed July 4, 1837. After his removal from this place 
 he resumed the practice of medicine, and died in Mexico, N. 
 Y., January 1, 1857, aged eighty-seven. 
 
 The eighth pastor, Rev. Charles Kittredge, was born in 
 Newburyport, Massachusetts, in August, 1809, and was grad- 
 uated at Dartmouth College, in 1834. He was ordained here 
 March 27, 1839, after having supplied the pulpit nearly a 
 year. The churches acting in the Council were, Ellington, 
 South Coventry, North Coventry, Bolton, Andover, Hebron, 
 North Mansfield, and Gilead. Rev. Bennett Tyler, D. D., of 
 East Windsor, preached the sermon, from Isaiah 58, 1 ; charge 
 to the pastor by Rev. George A. Calhoun, of North Coventry; 
 right hand of fellowship by Rev. Alpha Miller, of Andover; 
 and address to the people by Rev. William Ely, of North 
 Mansfield. 
 
 In the latter part of the year 1839, the pastor proposed 
 " an abridgement in the language of the Confession of Faith, 
 and the addition of proof texts, and to have the same printed, 
 together with the covenant and a catalogue of all the names 
 of the members of the church, in pamphlet form, and one 
 copy for each member ;" which proposal, after due delibera- 
 tion, was approved, and, on June 9th, 1840, our confession 
 and covenant, as at present existing, were adopted. 
 
 Being unable to preach for a considerable time from im- 
 paired health, Mr. Kittredge asked the church to agree with
 
 20 
 
 him in calling a council for his dismission, to which request 
 the church and society consented, and he was accordingly dis- 
 missed Feb. 16th, 1841, after a pastorate of only two years, 
 in which time nine were added to the church. He afterwards 
 preached, for a time, in West Greece, N. Y., in which place 
 he now resides, without any pastoral charge. 
 
 The ninth pastor was Rev. James Wheelock Woodward, a 
 descendant, in the fourth generation, of Dr. Wheelock. He 
 was born in Hanover, New Hampshire, March 30, 1805, and 
 was graduated at Dartmouth College, in 1826. For nine 
 years he was pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Shrews- 
 bury, New Jersey. After preaching here several months, he 
 was installed March 23d, 1842. The churches comprising the 
 council were, South Coventry, North Coventry, Andover, 
 Gilead, East Stafford, Marlboro and Willimantic. The ser- 
 mon, from II Cor., ii : 16, was preached by Rev. Jonathan 
 Cogswell, D. D., of East Windsor; Charge to the pastor by 
 Rev. Chauncey Booth, of South Coventry ; Right Hand of 
 Fellowship, by Rev. George H. Woodward, of East Stafford, 
 brother of the candidate ; and Address to the people by Rev. 
 Charles Nichols, of Gilead. 
 
 During the year previous to his settlement, his labors with 
 this people were largely blessed, and 17 were added to the 
 church near the close of the year. During his ministry 56 
 were received to the church. He was dismissed Oct. 12th, 
 1848, having been pastor nearly seven years. 
 
 After leaving this place he resided, for a time, in Flatbush, 
 Long Island, and then in Albany, N. Y., where he was en- 
 gaged in mercantile pursuits ; and again, for a few months, 
 in Columbia ; nearly all this time under treatment for that 
 dread disease which was disfiguring his face and by which his 
 life was terminated. His last two years were spent in Iowa, 
 whither he went, as he said, " to die with his brother." He 
 was, however, able to labor there happily and successfully, 
 till near the close of his life, connected, most of the time, 
 with the Congregational church in Irving. He died in Toledo, 
 Iowa, at the house of his brother. Rev. George H. Woodward, 
 Jan. 0th, 1864, aged 58. In his funeral sermon, preached by
 
 21 
 
 Rev. Mr. Dodd, we have this passage : " How has grace 
 abounded in all his comfort ! always satisfied and thankful, 
 he received his affliction as the wisely-directed allotment of a 
 loving Father, chastening an erring child for his good. He 
 felt, under all, that God is good when he afflicts as when he 
 comforts. Though for a long time a great sufferer, he was 
 never known to utter a word of complaint. While he had 
 breath he praised his God. For years he had looked death 
 in the face, and, though nature always shrinks from it as an 
 enemy, through grace he had been enabled to see it disarmed 
 of its sting, and to greet it with a smile, yea, with triumph. 
 ' 0, death where is thy sting ? 0, grave where is thy victory ? 
 Thanks be to God who giveth us the victory through our 
 Lord Jesus Christ.' " 
 
 Mr. Woodward was married in 1834, to Miss Jane Ten- 
 brook, of Shrewsbury, New Jersey. She died in Albany, 
 New York, Dec. 6th, 1857. 
 
 The tenth and present pastor was ordained here, June 11, 
 1850. The sermon was preached by Rev. Abel McEwen, 
 D. D., of New London ; Charge to the pastor by Rev. George 
 A. Calhoun, of North Coventry ; Right Hand of Fellowship, 
 by Rev. John Avery, of Exeter ; and Address to the people 
 by Rev. Samuel G. Willard, of Willimantic. 
 
 During the present pastorate the church has enjoyed three 
 seasons of revival : in 1854, when 26 were added to the 
 church ; in 1858, when 20 were added to the church ; and in 
 1865, giving an accession of 22. And besides these three, it is 
 a most happy coincidence that we are observing this 150th 
 anniversary just in the midst of a work of grace, so marvel- 
 ous and so wide-spread in this town, reaching especially so 
 many of the men and women in and past mid-life, that it 
 seems as if we were indeed carried back to that mighty work 
 of God, here in Lebanon Crank, in the first year of Dr. 
 Wheelock's ministry. And just here would we desire to re- 
 cord our grateful sense of this great and undeserved favor of 
 God, extended to us within the month past, in connection 
 with the labors of Rev. John D. Potter. 
 
 The wife of the present pastor, Mrs. Julia S. Avery, daugli- 
 3
 
 22 
 
 ter of Roswell and Phebe H. Smith, of New Haven, died 
 here June 24th, 1855 ; and at the grave stands a fitting mon- 
 ument, erected by the ladies of the Parish, — a soothing token 
 of their affectionate remembrance of one whose delight it 
 was to share in the joys and sorrows and duties of the people 
 whom she fondly loved. 
 
 In the latter part of the year 1860, a new catalogue and 
 manual was printed for the use of the church. The present 
 list of members Contains 130 names, 47 males and 83 fe- 
 males.* 
 
 THE DEACONS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 Of some of these scarcely more can here be noted than the 
 bare names. No date of election can be positively ascertain- 
 ed until the beginning of the present century. Previous to 
 that time we take the year in which they are first called dea- 
 cons in the society records, as very near the time of their 
 election. The first deacons mentioned are Samuel Wright 
 and John Newcomb, and these persons undoubtedly officiated 
 from the first. 
 
 Deacon Samuel Wright, died April 18, 1734, aged 61. 
 
 Deacon John Newcomb was the son of Simeon and Deb- 
 orah Newcomb, and was born in Edgarton, Mass., about the 
 year 1688. He moved from here to Cornwallis, Nova Scotia, 
 where he died Feb. 22, 1765. 
 
 Deacon Joseph Clark is mentioned as holding the ofiice as 
 early as 1735. His tombstone bears this testimony : " Capt. 
 Joseph Clark Esq., a man who was faithful in his private and 
 public life ; used the ofiice of deacon well, endured his last 
 sickness with patience, and died in hope of a blessed immor- 
 tality, Sept. 10, 1769, in the 78th year of his age." 
 
 Deacon Eliakim T upper, is spoken of in the year 1741, but 
 how long he held the ofiice, or when he died, is not ascer- 
 tained. 
 
 Deacon James Wright is also mentioned as early as the 
 year 1745. 
 
 *To this number add 39 received into the church in Jan. 1867, of whom 3 by 
 letter.
 
 23 
 
 Deacon Josiah Lyman held the office from about 1750 till 
 his death, Feb. 6, 1760, at the age of 70. 
 
 Deacon Thomas Lyman served about the same time, and 
 we have this record on his tombstone : " He was a man of 
 great experience in the christian religion. Few in our world 
 have enjoyed a more constant communion with Heaven, or, 
 at intervals, had greater discoveries of divine things. His life 
 was zealous and exemplary, his death was peaceful and tri- 
 umphant. He did great honor to religion while he lived, but 
 greater when he died. In his last moments were seen the 
 power of the divine life and the most convincing proof of the 
 truth of the christian religion." He died Aug. 13, 1785, in 
 the 80th year of his age. 
 
 Deacon Israel Woodward united with this church in 1736, 
 and was performing the duties of the office as early as 1752. 
 He died July 30, 1797, in the 90th year of his age. We have 
 this inscription at his grave : " He was eminent for his piety 
 towards God and usefulness to the world, and came to his 
 grave like a shock of corn fully ripe. The memory of the 
 just is blessed." 
 
 Deacon James Pinneo, born in 1708, held the office as early 
 as 1755. He died April 16, 1789, aged 80 ; and his tomb- 
 stone tells us : 
 
 "The sweet remembrance of the just, 
 Shall flourish when they sleep in dust." 
 
 Deacon Preserved Wright was holding the office at the 
 time of Dr. Wheclock's removal, and accompanied him to 
 Hanover, N. H. 
 
 Deacon Jabez Kingsbury is spoken of as early as 1768, but 
 no further record is found of him. 
 
 Deacon Samuel Dunham united with the church in 1741. 
 On his tombstone is written : " A man of real worth in private 
 and public character, his usefulness in society was such that 
 he might fitly be called a blessing in his day. He professed 
 hearty friendship to the cause of Christ, which both his life 
 and his death witnessed to be genuine. In the lively hope of 
 a blessed immortality, he departed this life Dec. 9, 1779, in 
 the 62d year of his age."
 
 24 
 
 Deacon Daniel Dunham, son of Deacon Samuel Dunham, 
 united with the church in 1769. He removed from town, 
 and where and when lie died has not been ascertained. 
 
 Deacon "Wadsworth Brewster is remembered by two or 
 three of the oldest members of the church, as fulfilling the 
 duties of the office in the first days of their communing with 
 this church. He died ^May 30, 1812, at the age of 75, and at 
 his grave we read : " jMark the perfect man, and behold the 
 upright; for the end of that man is peace." 
 
 Deacon James Pinneo, son of Deacon James and Priscilla 
 Pinneo, was born April 5, 1734 ; united with this church in 
 1793 ; and died June 14, 1824, at the full age of 90. 
 
 Deacon Samuel Barstow, was born in Exeter, April 8, 1760. 
 When he was about ten years of age, his father moved into 
 tliis Parish. At the age of seventeen he yielded his heart to 
 Christ after a protracted struggle, in which he was made to 
 see the fearful guilt of his strong rebellion against God. He 
 did not, however, unite with the church till Sept., 1781. He 
 was chosen deacon in 1801. The characteristic feature of 
 his spirit and life would quite truly be expressed by that 
 scripture, " not slothful iu business, fervent in spirit, serving 
 the Lord." He was ever ready to introduce and carry on 
 religious conversation. In seasons of religious interest in 
 neighboring towns he would find it his delight to be present 
 with his whole soul, sharing in and helping on the good 
 work. "In 1801 he was one of three brethren who com- 
 menced a weekly prayer meeting in his own district on Thurs- 
 day evening. They longed for a revival of religion, and they 
 determined to seek it in the appointed way. They began to 
 inquire of the Lord for it. And while they were yet speak- 
 ing, the Lord heard and answered them. The meetings filled 
 up, christians awoke to prayerful efforts, and sinners inquired, 
 'what shall we do?' " Thus began that powerful work of 
 grace in 1801-2. So too in 1816, he was very active in origi- 
 nating those meetings for prayer which resulted in another 
 blessed revival. And even when he had passed his fourscore 
 years, " he wished to be a fellow-helper to the truth, and 
 consented to act as one of a committee to go from house to
 
 25 
 
 lieiise and converse and pray with families. Just before his 
 death, he said, "I am willing to stay just as long, and suffer 
 just as much pain, as may please the Lord. But I long to go. 
 I feel tliat for every brother on earth, I have fifteen in heaven, 
 jind I long to be with them. I love them, but I love the 
 Saviour more. Precious, precious Saviour." He died Feb. 
 27, 1846, aged 86. A sketch of his life was published in 
 pamphlet form, and was made one of the tracts of the Ameri- 
 can Tract Society. 
 
 Deacon Daniel Lord united with this church by letter in 
 the year 1800. He was chosen to the office in 1801. He re- 
 moved from this town to Bolton where he died in 1834. 
 
 Deacon Henry Bliss was chosen to the office in 1810, and 
 died May 27, 1815, at the age of 73. 
 
 Deacon Benjamin Lyman, son of Benjamin and Elizabeth 
 Lyman, united with this church Oct. 18, 1809. He was chosen 
 deacon in 1813, and having obtained help of God, he re- 
 mains with us until this day. He had anticipated this Anni- 
 versary with very great interest, hoping he miglithave strength 
 to be present, but the hand of his Heavenly Father is upon 
 him in sicliness and infirmities, and he is only awaiting a 
 happier day than this. 
 
 Deacon Sylvester Mauley united with this church Oct. 18, 
 1809, and was chosen deacon in 1815. He removed to Penn- 
 sylvania where he died in 1833. 
 
 Deacon Silas Holbrook, son of John and Sarah Holbrook, 
 united with this church in 1814. He was chosen to the office in 
 1831. A man of great simplicity of character, and of de- 
 vout, humble spirit, earnest and importunate in prayer, his 
 memory is cherished with esteem by the whole community. 
 He died Feb. 19, 1861, aged 79. 
 
 Deacon Lorenzo W. Dewey, son of Eleazar (the sole rem- 
 nant of the revival of 1801,) and Lydia Dewey, united with 
 this church in 1823. He was chosen deacon July 8, 1843, 
 and is still performing the duties of the office. 
 
 Deacon Chester W. Lyman, son of Chester and Sophia Ly- 
 man, united with this churcli in 1823, and was chosen deacon 
 April 30, 1858, which office he still holds.
 
 26 
 
 THE SABBATH SCHOOL. 
 
 This scliool was first organized in May, 1820, cliiefly tlirongh 
 tlie agency of Rev. Alfred Wright. Deacon Benjamin Ly- 
 man was the first superintendent, which position he contin- 
 ued to hold for fourteen years. The first lesson given to the 
 school was the first chapter of John, and each scholar was to 
 repeat as many verses as could be remembered. The scholars 
 in those classes of 1820, have mostly passed away in death, a few 
 remain to compare those beginnings with the school of the 
 present day, which numbers about 150. For 35 years the 
 school was discontinued through the winter, but the last 10 
 or 12 years show that it has an unbroken life. It has bad a 
 part in benevolent contributions, annually for 9 years pre- 
 vious to May, 1865 ; since which time by weekly collections. 
 The Fortieth Anniversary of the school was observed in 1860. 
 
 Such is a cursory glance at the history of this church, ex- 
 tending over a period of 150 years. It has had its trial 
 scenes, but not so severe as many of the early planted 
 churches. It lias preserved, nearly complete, its original ter- 
 ritory, the sole occupant. It has not been subjected to those 
 unhappy vicissitudes which are incident to a fluctuating pop- 
 ulation. Generations have come up, one after another, adopt- 
 ing, quite generally, the same form of christian doctrine and 
 mode of worship, thereby preserving unimpaired the strength 
 and numbers of the church ; and this, doubtless, is to be at- 
 tributed, in a great measure, under God, to the thorough 
 doctrinal inculcation and long continued labors of its two 
 early pastors. 
 
 Here also have been experienced, from time to time, re- 
 freshing seasons from the presence of the Lord, enkindling 
 anew the faith and the zeal of the church, and gathering 
 spiritual harvests from each successive generation. 
 
 In view of these untold blessings, with what gratitude and 
 praise to the Great Head of the Church should we remem- 
 ber all this way. God hath given you the goodly heritage. 
 He established it here and has preserved it througli more 
 than "the third and fourth generation," that it may be a
 
 27 
 
 blessing to you of to-day. Here, on this day of commemo- 
 ration, give God the praise, and forget never, all these his 
 benefits. 
 
 Remember also, with grateful affection, those fathers and 
 mothers in Israel, who, at whatever point in all this way, be 
 it earlier or later, have passed on before you to their Heaven- 
 ly Father's rest. They acted and planned with reference to 
 those who should come after. For you they labored, for you 
 they prayed. Be yours the grateful heart, the affectionate 
 remembrance and the just appreciation of their self-denying 
 exertions in behalf of this beloved Zion. 
 
 Here also take up a due sense of your own responsibility. 
 These blessings have descended to you by vigilance and faith- 
 fulness on the part of your fathers. Just in the same way 
 must these blessings pass down to your children and your 
 children's children. The inheritance, handed down so far in 
 its integrity, is now in your hands, and yours is the responsi- 
 bility of transmitting it, unimpaired, to those who come after 
 you. Be mindful then of this solemn and weighty responsi- 
 bility ; be faithful to your priceless trust, that at some distant 
 Anniversary day, fifty and a hundred years hence, it may be 
 among the highest sources of gratulation, that here, even. 
 your day, the people of God were found seekin^^h^Tjord and 
 Zion was made to prosper
 
 28 
 
 TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF REV. THOMAS BROCKWAY, 
 ONE OF THE PASTORS OF THE CHURCH. 
 
 By Doct. 0. B. Lyman, Haetfobd. 
 
 One spot dear to memory let us turn now to view, 
 
 The scenes of the past it will call up anew ; 
 
 'Tis that spot where once stood the house for God's praise, 
 
 Where worshiped the fathers in eax'her days. 
 
 The house in its structure was ancient and plain. 
 
 Its pews did no carpets or cushions contain; 
 
 No soft seated sofa its pulpit to grace, 
 
 No costly chandelier to light up the place ; 
 
 No glowing hot furnace to displace the cold, 
 
 Unknown were such things to the churches of old. 
 
 As an aid to the speaker's laborious tongue. 
 
 O'er his head a broad sounding canopy hung; 
 
 And perched on its top was the form of a dove. 
 
 An olive branch bearing the emblem of love. 
 
 There first in the pulpit we, hoary heads, saw 
 
 An advocate stand for the truth of God's law. 
 
 And heard him prockiim the Gospel of Peace, 
 
 To the mourner a solace ; to the captive, release. 
 
 There first too we heard from the "church going bell," 
 
 The saddening deep tones of a funeral knell; 
 
 Or its call on the Sabbath for such as inclined, 
 
 To go up to the temple to seek food for the mind. 
 
 As onward time sped in its work of decay, 
 
 There arose a desire for modern display; 
 
 And at length 't was resolved a new structure to raise. 
 
 That would better compare with the taste of our days ; 
 
 But the site of the former most lonely is left. 
 
 And of all that was sacred seems sadly bereft. 
 
 Mark yonder old church-yard where all is at rest. 
 How calmly it lies there declined to the west ; 
 This sacred spot enter with reverent tread, 
 'Tis a place of reposit — a rest for the dead ; 
 Our fathers sleep there awaiting their time. 
 To arise and put on immortality's prime;
 
 29 
 
 And affection has reared many monuments there, 
 Breathed many a sigh, and shed many a tear, 
 O'er the graves of its kindred where silent they lie, 
 While angels their spirits have becked up on high. 
 How often we've wandered those lone graves among. 
 And thought of that numerous celestial bright throng. 
 Of spirits immortal that peacefully roam, 
 Through the elysian fields of the blest spirit home! 
 Did sometimes the question then seem to arise, 
 "Do these spirits roam far beyond the fair skies? 
 Or do they draw near by an influx of soul, 
 Our thoughts and affections for good to control ?" 
 
 Mark there 'mid the graves of his people appears. 
 
 The tombstone of Brockavay, grown mossy with years; 
 
 Long, long has he lain thei'e beneath the cold sod, 
 
 Yes, almost forgotten, that servant of God. 
 
 Now could he to earth from the spirit-land come. 
 
 And visit the spot where of old was his home, 
 
 View the change that appears on the old village green. 
 
 Where he walked in his day with dignified mien, 
 
 Find the temple removed where he anciently stood, 
 
 And pictured the cross stained v/ith innocent blood, . 
 
 Old structures demolished and new ones upthrown. 
 
 Familiar old faces and kindred all gone, — 
 
 On the prospect how strangely his spirit would gaze, 
 
 While the change it contrasted with primitive days !
 
 80 
 
 HISTORICAL SKETCH. 
 
 By John S. Yeomans. 
 
 The second or new Ecclesiastical Society, as it was then 
 sometimes called, was incorporated by the General Assembly 
 of the Colony, at their May session in 1716. It is supposed 
 that the Society immediately acted in the matter of procuring 
 a minister, but we have no record evidence preserved for the 
 next eight years* 
 
 The first entry on our records is December 24th, 1724, 
 when "Mr. Samuel Smith desired the Parish that he might 
 lay down his Pastoral office to which they consented by vote." 
 Prom that date to the present time we have a continuous, 
 unbroken record of the transactions of the Society. The ter- 
 ritorial limits of the Society, as defined at that time, are the 
 same as the present boundaries of the town ; with the excep- 
 tion of the triangular tract, set off to Andover, on the forma- 
 tion of that Society, about the year 1748, and which contained 
 at that time about twenty-four tax-payers, as appears by rate 
 bills extant. The main portion of the territory was included 
 in what is known as Clark and Dewey's purchase, and Joseph 
 Clark and Benony Clark, two of the sons of William Clark, 
 the Proprietor, were among the first settlers, and were tlio 
 leading men of the Parish. 
 
 The first acts of the Parish show that they were ^actuated by 
 the same spirit that sent our Pilgrim Fathers to this then wild 
 and rock-bound shore, — "Freedom to worship God," — conse- 
 quently the Church and the School House claimed their 
 earliest attention ; and we will first endeavor to trace their 
 foot-prints in this direction.
 
 Bl 
 
 MEETING HOUSES. 
 
 The first Meeting House was raised probably some time 
 during the summer of 1724. 
 
 Where the Rev. Samuel Smith held his meetings we have 
 no means of knowing, but probably at the house of Joseph 
 Clark. 
 
 A Parish meeting was held January 27th, 1725, at which 
 meeting they " Voted to give the Rev. William Gager a call 
 to settle with us in the work of the Ministry;" they also 
 "voted to remove the meeting to the house of Benony Clark." 
 
 At a Parish meeting held December 15th, 1725, they "voted 
 to John Mory twelve shillings for sweeping the Meeting 
 House." This is the first record we have in regard to a 
 Meeting House. It was probably covered and the floor laid 
 and occupied during the summer for worship on the Sabbath. 
 
 At a Parish meeting December 1 4th, 1726, "voted to make 
 provision for laying the gallery floors, and for making the 
 stairs and finishing the coving and building the breast work 
 of the gallery, and for making steps for the three doors, and 
 appointed Henry Woodward, Lieutenant Martin, and Josiah 
 Lyman, to manage the affair; also, voted to Deacon Wright 
 one pound for sweeping the Meeting House." * 
 
 December 26th, 1728, "voted to procure boards to seal the 
 Meeting House, and for the pews, and slit work for the galle- 
 ries and pews, and all other stuff needful for the work." 
 
 December 4th, 1730, " voted to do something towards finish- 
 ing the Meeting House." 
 
 November 3d, 1731, "voted to finish the seats and plaster 
 the walls of the Meeting House ; Captain Sprague, Lieutenant 
 Woodward, and Sarjeant Daggit to see the work executed." 
 
 During the season of 1732, it seems that the Parish had so 
 far completed their first Meeting House that at a special meet- 
 ing held January 10, 1733, " they voted to Seat the Meeting 
 House." 
 
 As this is a practice that has almost universally gone out of 
 use, I give, as a curiosity, the entire record of this meeting.
 
 32 
 
 " Made choice of John Sims, Joseph Clark, and Thomas 
 Woodward to be a committee to seat tlie Meeting House. 
 Voted that no man shall be brought lower than he was seated 
 before. 
 
 Voted that the seaters should reckon one, and but one head 
 to each list. 
 
 Voted to seat the Meeting House by the last Rate or List. 
 
 Voted to vallew one year's age to two shillings in the rate. 
 
 Voted that the pews next to the great door shall be vallewed 
 next to the first or highest pews, and those by the stairs equal 
 to the second seat ; the fore seat in the front to be equal to 
 the second seat in the body of the Meeting House, and the 
 fore seat in the side gallery, to be equal to the sixth seat. 
 
 At the same time they made choice of Deacon Wright, 
 Captain Sprague and Sarjeant Lyman to be a committee to 
 seat the seators." 
 
 At the same time they " voted that Samuel Woodward, Israel 
 Woodward, William Simes, Noah Dewey, Samuel Wright and 
 Preserved Wright, shall have liberty to build themselves a 
 seat or seats, a pew or pews, for them and their families, in 
 the front gallery, behind those seats that are already built ; to 
 be built at their own charge ; and also be debarred from any 
 other^seat in the Meeting House ; they to have all the room 
 that is behind the scats that are now built." 
 
 With the gradation of the pews, the definite property quali- 
 fications as determined by the last list by which they were to 
 be seated, a committee of their own choice to seat them, and 
 a sub-committee to seat the seators, it would seem that they 
 might worship in their new house with quiet minds and con- 
 tented spirits. February 8th, 1733, less than a month from 
 the time of the appointment of the seating committee, another 
 meeting is called, and it is " voted that the pew by the great 
 door in the Meeting House, shall be reconed equal to the fore 
 seat and corner pew ; and also voted to accept of what the 
 seating committee had done." Whether the pew by the great 
 door was not sufiiciently dignified, or those who were assigned 
 to it were degraded, we have no means of knowing. At any 
 rate it seems that a vote of the Society was needed to give
 
 characteristic dignity, either to the pew or people ; and we 
 need not smile at this act of our ancestors, for similar devel- 
 opments of human nature exist to-day. , 
 
 The size of this Meeting House is not known. It was 
 probably about forty or fifty feet in length and breadth, as the 
 votes show that there were galleries on three sides, wide 
 enough to have pews built back of the seats, which could not 
 be done in a house of less dimensions. 
 
 It was probably a rude building at best, as is usually the 
 case with pioneer settlers, for in November, 1733, they " voted 
 to repair the windows, both wood and glass, and also to make 
 new steps; also to give liberty to Joseph Loomis, John Sims, 
 and Benony Loomis, to build themselves a pew over the 
 women's stairs,* not hurting the stairway nor the window." 
 This last vote was probably not carried out, for in November, 
 1740, "the Parish Committee were authorized to grant liberty 
 to Nathaniel White, Jun'r, John Payne, with sundry others 
 to build a seat or pew over the women's stairs, as they think 
 proper ; also voted to fill up the broad alley with seats and to 
 take down the coving of the Meeting House ;" and in 1744, 
 " to fill up the aisles at the east end of the Meeting House." 
 
 At a Parish meeting, November 22d, 1744, probably about 
 twenty years only from the time the first house was raised, 
 the proposition to build a new one was brought before the 
 Parish, and they voted in the negative ; also, at the same 
 time " voted not to repair or make addition to the old one." 
 But the Great Awakening of 1741 had passed over New Eng- 
 land. The new Pastor, Rev. Mr. Wheelock, was active in it ; 
 his people had shared largely in its blessing, and the church 
 accommodations were insufficient for the thronging multitude 
 which each returning Sabbath brought to its courts. 
 
 Consequently at their annual meeting the next year, Nov. 
 21st, 1745, they " voted to make some provision for building 
 a new Meeting House and to make repairs upon the old one 
 for present comfort." The location of tliis house is learned 
 from the location of the second which was determined by a 
 committee appointed by the Legislature in 1747, to " ascer- 
 tain and fix a place to set a Meeting House upon, among us."
 
 84 
 
 This committee reported that they had stuck a stake about 
 ten rods south of the present Meeting House on the common, 
 — the sills of the house to enclose the stake. This Meeting 
 House, as many of us will remember, stood in front of the 
 present dwelling house of Mr. John Armstrong, consequently 
 the first Meeting House stood about where the school house 
 now stands and most probably on the same grovind. 
 
 In 1747 "The Society voted to build a new Meeting House, 
 64 feet in length and 46 feet in width and 26 feet in height from 
 the top of the sill to the underside of the plate. Also voted to 
 get the timber, hew, and frame and raise it, cover the roof 
 and board the outside and provide timber, either pine or 
 ceder, for the window frames, by the first day of Dec. 1748, 
 and also voted a tax of two shillings upon the pound towards 
 defraying the charges of the Meeting House, also a tax of 13 
 pence on the pound for Parish charges, and appointed Captain 
 Joseph Clark, Ensign Nathaniel Cushman, and Lieutenant 
 Benajah Bill, a committee to carry on the work of building, 
 so far as they have agreed to do it." 
 
 In August, 1748, " Voted to clapboard the south side and 
 the ends with Ceder, and the back side with Chestnut, and to 
 do it this fall." I record this fact for the purpose of showing 
 the care bestowed by the Parish in the selection of the build- 
 ing material of this house. These clapboards were still on the 
 house when it was taken down in 1832, eighty-four years from 
 the time they were put on ; and it was thought by many better 
 to remodel and repair the old house than to build new, be- 
 cause the outside covering was so good ; as many of us well 
 recollect. Oct. 5th, 1749, "voted to improve the old Meeting 
 House toward finishing the new one, either by sale or any 
 other way ;" and in Sept. 1751, " voted to finish the house 
 within two years." 
 
 "Also appointed Joseph Clark, Benajah Bill and Nathaniel 
 Cushman to carry on the work." 
 
 The probability is that the Sabbath worship was held in the 
 new house at this time, as a vote was passed to seat the 
 Meeting; House.
 
 36 
 
 In December, 1753, " voted to Collour the Meeting House 
 sky collour and also to pave round it with round stone or flatt 
 and to make such alterations in seating as the Com'y think 
 proper." 
 
 In Dec. 5th, 1754, a Parish meeting was held, at which time 
 they "voted to settle with the meeting house committee at this 
 meeting. The accounts were cast up and, errors excepted, 
 amounted to £4458 Is. Ur (114,860.00.) This certainly 
 shows a good degree of energy and perseverance in a small 
 parish with but 170 tax payers, as appears by old town and 
 Parish rate Bills of that day. 
 
 In the year 1792, a Steeple was erected and a Bell pro- 
 cured by subscribers at a cost of $150.00. The vote of the 
 Parish is as follows : " Voted, to give liberty to the subscri- 
 bers for building a Steeple, to erect one and annex it to the 
 west end of the Meeting House, and furnish it with a Bell, 
 and if so erected and furnished with a Bell, the society will 
 receive it as theirs and afterwards keep it in repair." 
 
 From the time the Steeple was erected, Mr. David Hun- 
 tington was Bell ringer, till his death in 1828 ; a period of 36 
 years ; and no man was ever more attached to Idol than was 
 he to the Bell. At 12 o'clock at noon and 9 o'clock P. M. 
 year in and year out, the tones of this Bell moved by his arm 
 would be heard by the people. And if, (as was often the 
 case,) some urchin on mischief bent, could fmd his way into 
 the Meeting House and commence ringing the Bell, no night 
 was so dark, no storm so pelting, but that the old man would 
 hasten to the Meeting House, and rest not till every window 
 and door was examined and secured. Wo ! to the wight who 
 should chance to be caught. But the agile feet of youth 
 were usually too fleet, and seldom were they caught. Yet I 
 appreliend that more than one who liears me to-day, would, 
 if that faithful, honest and good old man were to rise from 
 his grave and appear in our midst, feel like asking his for- 
 giveness for the annoyance which, in the hilarity and thought- 
 lessness of youth, they had caused him. 
 
 Of the present Meeting House I propose to say but little, 
 as all the people of middle age are acquainted with the facts
 
 36 
 
 connected with it. Aug. 29th, 1831, a Society meeting was 
 held and " voted to request the Committee to warn a meeting 
 for the purpose of raising a tax to repair the Meeting House. 
 Also voted that Deacon Lyman be requested to address the 
 society on the subject of a Meeting House," and adjourned to 
 Sept. 12th, when a committee was appointed " to make a 
 draft of a Meeting House." At a subsequent meeting, Sam- 
 uel Little, Esq., Samuel West, Jr., Daniel Hunt, Erastus 
 Post, George Loomis and Chester Bliss were appointed a com- 
 mittee to superintend the building of the House. They were 
 to use the old house in the construction of the new one. 
 
 A contract was made, and the work commenced in tlie 
 Spring of 1882, and the house was completed and dedicated 
 the same Pall. 
 
 Its length is 58 feet. Breadth 42 feet. 
 
 The whole expense for their house was - $2,015.92 
 
 For the land on which it stands, - 75.00 
 
 $2,090.92 
 This sum was paid by subscription ; the name of each sub- 
 scriber and amount given being entered on the Society Re- 
 cords. 
 
 In the Spring of 1850, this House was thoroughly repaired, 
 the roof shingled, the outside painted, the windows on the 
 East end closed up and chimneys built from the ground, 
 supports placed under the steeple, the lathing and plastering 
 over head renewed and whitewashed, the desk remodeled and 
 the inside painted and varnished, with other repairs, at a cost 
 of $535.79, which was paid by subscription ; the names of the 
 donors and amount given by each being entered on the Soci- 
 eties books. * 
 
 In addition to this, the Ladies Benevolent Association fur- 
 nished the house with window blinds, trimming for the desk, 
 and carpeted the aisles, and the young men furnished the 
 Sofa for the desk.
 
 3T 
 
 SKETCH OF MINISTERS FROM THIS PARISH. 
 
 BY THE PASTOE. 
 
 John Smalley was born in Lebanon Crank, June 4, 1734. 
 He was the son of Benjarriin and Mary Smalley, both mem- 
 bers of this church. When he was six years old he heard 
 Mr. Whitfield preach, and his young heart was deeply moved; 
 but his most permanent religious impressions were received 
 on discovering his eminently devoted mother, "at a certain 
 time, as he entered an apartment of the house, in a dark cor- 
 ner, in a kneeling posture, engaged, as he supposed in prayer." 
 That scene never went from him through all his manhood. 
 He was fitted for college by his pastor, Mr. Wheelock, and 
 was graduated at Yale College, in 1756. He was.licensed to 
 preach by the Litchfield South Association, in 1757, and in 
 Nov. of that year he began to preach in Berlin, now the first 
 church in New Britain, where he was ordained pastor, at the 
 time of the organization of the church, April 19, 1758. There 
 he continued in the faithful discharge of the duties of his 
 office till the autumn of 1808, a little more than 50 years, 
 though he preached occasionally till Sept. 1813. He received 
 the degree of Doctor of Divinity from the College of New 
 Jersey in 1800. 
 
 Dr. Smalley was one of the prominent Theologians of his 
 day, distinguished both as a teacher of Theological students 
 and as a standard writer. He published two volumes of ser- 
 mons ; the first volume in 1803, and the second in 1814 ; also 
 six other sermons, two of which, on natural and moral ina- 
 bility, were republished in London. He died June 1, 1820, 
 aged 86, having held the pastoral office 62 years. 
 
 Bezaleel Woodward, who was licensed to preach the gospel 
 but not ordained, was born in 1745, and was graduated at 
 Yale College in 1764. He became the first Prof, of Mathe- 
 matics in Dartmouth College. He died in 1804, aged 60. 
 
 Samuel Collins was born in 1747. Having worked at his 
 trade till he was past twenty-one years old, he commenced a 
 course of study, and was graduated at Dartmouth College in 
 5
 
 38 
 
 1775. He was ordained pastor in Sandown, New Hampshire, 
 Dejc. 27, 1780. He was dismissed April 30, 1788, and in 
 Nov. following was installed over the Presbyterian church in 
 Hanover Center, New Hampshire. This church, being but a 
 remnant of that from which the majority had been taken by 
 the former pastor, " his ministry there was beset by trials. 
 He was, however, universally esteemed as a devoted and ex- 
 cellent christian minister." He was again dismissed in 1795 ; 
 and, after a brief ministry in Craffcsbury, he died in that 
 town Jan. 7, 1807, at the age of 59. 
 
 Daniel Crocker was graduated at Yale College in 1782, 
 and was licensed by the New Haven West Association, in 
 1788. He was settled in Redding in Oct., 1809, where he re- 
 mained till Oct., 1824. He was again settled in New Fair- 
 field in Oct., 1827, and died in March, 1831. 
 
 Walter Harris was born in 1761, the son of Nathaniel and 
 Grace Harris. He served three years in the war of the Rev- 
 olution, his only brother falling a sacrifice in that struggle, 
 and was honorably discharged when less than nineteen years 
 old. He removed to Lebanon, New Hampshire, where he 
 came under the influence of a powerful revival of religion, 
 and gaining satisfactory evidence of his conversion, he devoted 
 himself to the work of the ministry. He was graduated at 
 Dartmouth College, in 1787. Having studied Theology with 
 Dr. Emmons, he was ordained pastor of a church which he 
 was instrumental in organizing in Dunbarton, New Hamp- 
 shire, Aug. 26, 1789. He received the degree of Doctor of 
 Divinity from Dartmouth College, in 1826. 
 
 As a preacher he was said to be "mighty in the scriptures. 
 He uttered himself with a deep solemnity that showed that 
 he never lost sight of his own final account. He chose out 
 acceptable words, but they were charged with an energy 
 which it was not easy to resist." One of his hearers once 
 said, "every sermon of his is a broad-axe, cutting away every 
 refuge of lies, and laying prostrate every thing that exalteth 
 itself against the knowledge of God." He received many 
 young men as Theological students, who ever after held him 
 in the highest estimation, as a man and as an instructor.
 
 39 
 
 Towards the close of his active duties as pastor, we have 
 this testimony concerning him from one who is remembered 
 by some here to-day, as a school-master in Hop River District, 
 Rev. Dr. Barstow, of Keene, New Hampshire ; his words are, 
 " I was struck in those days with his deep humility and un- 
 wavering confidence in God, with his comprehensive views of 
 the christian system, and the facility with which he could put 
 to silence the ignorances of foolish men. I could not but 
 feel that he was a master in Israel, and that it was good to 
 sit at his feet and listen to his instruction." And this same 
 witness recalls these words spoken to him by Dr. Harris when 
 at Saratoga for the benefit of his health : — " I told my people 
 the last Sabbath, that I had done ; that I had cared for them 
 for more than forty years, without leaving them unsupplied 
 for many Sabbaths, and that now they must take care of 
 themselves ; that I hoped they would hold fast the doctrines 
 which I preached, for I verily believed they were the truth of 
 God, and I would willingly risk my own soul upon them. 
 The people were somewhat affected, and I too was affected 
 with the thought that I must meet them at the bar of God. 
 I warned them to meet me as the disciples of Christ, that I 
 might not be a swift witness against them."' After these 
 forty years' labors he was not able to continue the active du- 
 ties of the ministry, yet he remained with his people till his 
 death, Dec. 25, 1843, at the age of 82. Fifteen of his ser- 
 mons were published, also an address before the Pastoral 
 Convention of New Hampshire. 
 
 Ezra Woodworth was born in 1765. He was graduated at 
 Dartmouth College in 1788 ; was ordained pastor of the first 
 church in Winsted, Jan. 2, 1792 ; was dismissed in 1799, and 
 died in 1836, aged 71. 
 
 Joel West, son of Samuel and Sarah West, was born March 
 12, 1766. He was graduated at Dartmouth College hi 1789, 
 and ordained pastor of the third church in Chatliam, (now 
 East Hampton,) in Oct., 1792. He remained the esteemed 
 and faithful pastor of that church till his death, in Nov., 1826, 
 at the age of 60. 
 
 Bezaleel Pinneo, sou of Deacon James and Jerusha Piuneo,
 
 40 
 
 was born July 28, 1769. He was graduated at Dartmouth 
 College in 1791 ; studied Theology with Dr. Smalley ; was 
 licensed by the Hartford South Association in Oct., 1793, 
 and was ordained pastor of the first church in Milford, Oct. 
 
 26, 1796. While pursuing his labors as pastor, he acted, for 
 a time, as instructor of students of Theology, among whom 
 was the distinguished Evangelist, Rev. Dr. Nettleton, remem- 
 bered by some who are here to-day, as preaching for a few 
 Sabbaths before the settlement of Mr. Kittredge. Mr. Pin- 
 neo remained in the active duties of the pastoral office forty- 
 three years, very widely known and respected, as excellent 
 in judgment and earnestly devoted to his work. Bearing the 
 infirmities of age for nearly ten years, he died among his 
 people Sept. 18, 1849, aged 80. 
 
 Diodate Brockway, second son and third child of Rev. 
 Thomas and Eunice Brockway, was born Dec. 29, 1776. He 
 was graduated at Yale College in 1797, united with this 
 church in Sept., 1798, studied Theology with Rev. Elijah 
 Parsons of East Haddam, was licensed by the Middlesex As- 
 sociation, Oct. 3, 1798, and was ordained pastor of the church 
 in Ellington, Sept. 19, 1799. He retained the pastoral office 
 fifty years, though by reason of his infirmities he had the as- 
 sistance of colleagues the last eighteen years. He was a Fel- 
 low of Yale College from 1827 till his death. He died Jan. 
 
 27, 1849, aged 72. He published a sermon;- preached at the 
 funeral of Deacon Gurdon Elsworth, 1803 ; another at the 
 dedication of the Meeting House in Ellington in 1806 ; a ser- 
 mon before the Missionary Society of Connecticut ; an Elec- 
 tion sermon in 1818, and a New Year's sermon in 1828. 
 
 Jacob Allen, son of Timothy and Mary Allen, was born 
 Aug. 18, 1781. While studying with Rev. E. T. Woodruff, 
 in North Coventry, he hopefully became a subject of divine 
 grace, and turned his thoughts towards the ministry. He 
 was graduated at Dartmouth College in 1811, studied Theol- 
 ogy with Dr. Burton of Thetford, Vt., was licensed by Orange 
 Association, and ordained pastor at Tunbridge, Yt., in Oct., 
 1813. He was dismissed in 1820 and installed in Eastbury 
 in July, 1822. Being dismissed in 1835, he was installed
 
 41 
 
 over the church of Voluntown and Sterling Oct. 11, 1837, 
 where he remained until Nov. 15, 1849, when he was dis- 
 missed and supplied the church in Long Society in Pres- 
 ton for one year, after which he returned to his last charge, 
 supplying the pulpit there until he died, March 13, 1856, at 
 the age of 75. 
 
 He is described, in a sermon preached at his funeral by Rev. 
 Henry Robinson, as " a sound and able Theologian, an ear- 
 nest and instructive preacher ; eminently gifted in prayer, a 
 faithful and devoted pastor, a wise and safe counsellor ; given 
 to hospitality, remarkable for humility, most affectionate and 
 exemplary in domestic relations, interested in benevolent 
 operations." He was a frequent contributor to periodicals 
 and newspapers, both secular and religious. He preached the 
 sermon at the dedication of this house. 
 
 Alfred Wright, son of Jeriah and Temperance Wright, was 
 born March 1, 1788. He is spoken of while a child as being 
 of a sober, thoughtful turn of mind, and possessed of an un- 
 commonly studious disposition. His father, with limited 
 means, and with a family of eleven children, could not gratify 
 his thirst for knowledge. He repeatedly expressed his desire 
 to obtain an education and become a minister of the gospel, 
 even before he was satisfied of his conversion. With feeble 
 health, and in the face of formidable obstacles, he pursued his 
 course of preparatory studies at the Colchester Academy, and 
 joined the sophomore class in Williams College, where he was 
 graduated in 1812. Thus far, not regarding himself as a 
 Christian, his mind was directed to the study of medicine, and 
 by his occasional reading of medical books, he gained an 
 amount of information that qualified him to render essential 
 medical service in the field of his future labors. But a few 
 months before his graduation he was reckoned among the 
 fruits of a revival in College, and from that time he enter- 
 tained the design of entering the ministry, and, if it was the 
 clear indication of providence, of engaging in a foreign mis- 
 sion. Wliile connected with the Andover Tlieological Sem- 
 inary, he was also engaged as instructor in Phillips Academy. 
 Being appointed tutor in Williams College, he entered upon
 
 42 
 
 the duties of that oJSfice in October, 1814. Yisitiiig home in 
 the winter of 1815, he was prostrated with sickness, and the 
 disease was of such a nature that but little hope was enter- 
 tained of restoration to an active and useful life. He turned 
 towards the south for his health, and was able to take charge 
 of a Female Academy in Raleigh, North Carolina. In the 
 winter of 1818, he was licensed to preach, and on the 17th of 
 December, 1819, he was ordained as an Evangelist, in the 
 Circular Church, Charleston, by the Congregational Associa- 
 tion of South Carolina. At the same time was ordained Jonas 
 King, the now veteran missionary, lately from his great life- 
 work in Athens. Mr. Wright turns from a call to settle in 
 Charleston to the Choctaws in Elliot, Georgia, and thus he 
 enters upon the life of missionary toil to which he had looked 
 forward, though in a field different from that which he had 
 anticipated. Ten years he spent with the Choctaws before 
 their removal beyond the Mississippi, having the care of a 
 church, conducting schools, preparing elementary school 
 books in the native language, and in time of sickness being 
 in constant demand for medical attention and advice. On the 
 removal of the Indians to their present territory in 1831, some 
 of the missionaries retired from the field, but Mr. Wright was 
 among those who, in com]3liance with the earnest entreaties 
 of the Indians, and in obedience to a sense of duty, accom- 
 panied them to their new home. He entered his new field of 
 labor in September, 1832, and selected a site which he called 
 Wheelock, in memory of the former pastor of his native town. 
 A church was organized on the second Sabbath in December, 
 1832, with thirty-seven members. And here, as his central 
 point, do we find him for the next twenty years, toiling on in 
 patience and hope, and often with the most cheering success ; 
 all the while "with a feeble frame, never without pain, unable 
 to walk more than a few rods, or raise with his hands more 
 than a few pounds weight." 
 
 But the great labor of his life was the translation of the 
 Holy Scriptures into the Choctaw language. Upon this the 
 full energies of his mind and body were bent. It was his 
 earnest wish to finish translating the Bible, but this was too
 
 43 
 
 great a work for one man, with all the difficulties which em- 
 barrassed him ; at the same time superintending the scliools, 
 and having the care of two or three churches. By diligent 
 application he carried the work of translation through the 
 New Testament, and from Genesis to Job, in the Old Testa- 
 ment. His motto, in his own words, was, " Labor, incessant 
 labor on earth, and rest, eternal rest in heaven." Nor was 
 his labor in vain. Sometimes forty and sixty or seventy in a 
 year would be reckoned among the converts within his par- 
 ticular field of labor. 
 
 The great secret of his success was that " he walked with 
 God." His spirit of devotion and of Christian solicitude for 
 the spiritual welfare of others is breathed forth, especially in 
 his early letters home, when, as a son and brother, he faith- 
 fully and affectionately and personally exhorted and entreated 
 his friends all to make Christ their Saviour, and to engage 
 with their full energies in his service. He always retained 
 an affectionate remembrance of his native place, and of this 
 churcli, inquiring after its welfare, rejoicing with it in its sea- 
 sons of refreshing, and bearing it on his prayers before the 
 throne of grace. He died March 31, 1853, aged sixty-five, 
 peacefully committing all to his Saviour, saying, " Good is 
 the will of the Lord concerning me." He had no more to do 
 but to lie down and die. He was in his master's work, and 
 ready for Heaven every day. When the word came to go up 
 higher, he just ceased his labors and obeyed. 
 
 " Servant of God, well done, 
 Rest from thy loved employ, 
 The battle fought, the victory won,"^ 
 Enter thy Master's joy." 
 
 James D. Chapman was born in May, 1799, was graduated 
 at Yale College, in 1826, preached one year in Prospect, and 
 was settled over the church in Wolcott, in 1833. He was 
 dismissed in 1840, and afterwards settled in Cummington, 
 Mass., where he died December 19, 1854, aged fifty-five. 
 
 Daniel Hunt, son of Daniel and Submit Hunt, was gradua- 
 ted at Amherst College, in 1828, studied theology at Andover 
 Seminary, and was ordained pastor of the church in Pomfret,
 
 44 
 
 April 8, 1835, where he still resides, although dismissed from 
 his charge, and from feeble health no longer able to fulfill the 
 duties of the ministry. He has published a historical sermon ; 
 also, valuable historical papers in connection with the 150th 
 anniversary of the church in Pomfret, which was duly com- 
 memorated October 26th, 1865. 
 
 Amasa Dewey, son of Asahel and Lucina Dewey, was born 
 March 12, 1804, united with this church in 1821, and was 
 graduated at Yale College, in 1832. He studied theology at 
 East Windsor Seminary, was licensed by the New Haven East 
 Association, in 1838, and ordained pastor in Petersham, Mass., 
 January 11, 1837, where he died January 5, 1840, at the age 
 of thirty-five. A small volume of practical sermons, from his 
 pen, was published after his death. 
 
 Ansel Dewey, son of Asahel and Lucina Dewey, was born 
 August 9, 1809, and united with this church in 1831. He 
 studied theology at East Windsor Seminary, was licensed by 
 the Hartford North Association, December 14th, 1836, but, 
 before assuming any pastoral charge, died August 6th, 1838, 
 aged twenty-nine. 
 
 Charles Little, son of Samuel and Jerusha Little, was grad- 
 uated at Yale College, in 1844, a classmate of the present 
 pastor. He studied theology at New Haven, united with this 
 church in 1847, and was ordained, in this house, September 
 1st, 1847 ; sermon by Rev. Joel Hawes, D. D., of Hartford. 
 He entered upon the missionary work in the year 1848, and 
 labored faithfully and successfully at several stations in the 
 Madura Mission, until 1859, when, by reason of impaired 
 health, he returned to this country, relinquishing the foreign 
 field. Having, in good measure, regained his health, he was 
 installed pastor of the church in Cheshire, January 1st, 1862. 
 Since leaving Cheshire, he has been engaged with the first 
 church in Woodbury, where he is now laboring.
 
 45 
 
 HISTORICAL PAPEBS. 
 
 By John S. Yeomans. 
 
 The first vote of the Parish in regard to Education, is Jan- 
 uary 6th, 1732, when they made choice of " Captain Ephraim 
 Sprague, Nehemiah Closson and Deacon Wright, to be a 
 school committee to receive our part of the country money, 
 and to lay it out at their discretion, for the instruction of 
 Children in the Parish." From this date forward regularly 
 at the annual meetings a like committee was appointed till 
 1798, when the organization of school societies took the place 
 of towns and ecclesiastical societies, in our school system. 
 That we may better understand this matter, perhaps a brief 
 digest of our school laws during the period of our 150 years 
 of ecclesiastical life may be appropriate. 
 
 From 1701 to 1800 the law of the Colony may be summed, 
 up as follows : 
 
 1st. An obligation on every parent and guardian of children, 
 " not to suffer any child or apprentice to grow up in their 
 families, unable to read the holy word of God and the good 
 laws of the Colony, under penalty for each offence. 
 
 2d, A tax of forty shillings on every £1,000 of the lists of 
 estates, collected with the annual State tax, and payable pro- 
 portionately to those towns only which should keep schools 
 according to law. 
 
 3d. A common school in every town of seventy families or 
 over, to be kei)t through the year, and in towns of less than 
 seventy families, at least six months in the year. 
 
 4th. A Grammar School in each of the four counties at 
 their county seats, to fit youth for College ; which Grammar 
 Schools must be free. 
 
 6th. A Collegiate School towards which the General Court 
 made an annual appropriation of X120. 
 6
 
 46 
 
 6th. Provision for the religious instruction of the Indians. 
 
 In May, 1717, the obligation resting upon towns in regard 
 to education was extended to parishes undei* the same provis- 
 ions, and we as a parish took charge of our schools. 
 
 In 1686 the Assembly inade a grant to the plantations of 
 Hartford and Windsor, of the north-west portion of tlie State 
 comprising the present towns of Norwalk, Goshen, Canaan, 
 Cornwall, Kent, Salisbury, Sharon, Torrington, Barkhamsted, 
 Colebrook, Harwinton, Hartland, Winchester and New Hart- 
 ford, to preserve them from the grasp of Sir Edmund Andros, 
 who acting for James the first, claimed all the unappropriated 
 lands of the State as belonging to the King. 
 
 But though the Charter Oak which preserved our Colonial 
 Charter lives only in history, yet the Charter which it held, 
 remains, and, encased in the wood which protected it, hangs 
 gracefully, in the office of the Secretary of the State in Hart- 
 ford. So also did Sir Edmund fail to get possession of the 
 unappropriated lands of the Colony. After the danger from 
 Andros was passed, the Governor claimed the lands as fully as 
 though no grant had been made. Hartford and Windsor 
 however, on the strength of the grant by the Assembly, and 
 the settlements commenced under it, determined to resist the 
 claim and oppose the legislature. Great disturbances ensued. 
 
 Finally, however, in 1726, forty years after the grant, the 
 dispute was settled, and the legislature resolved that tlie lands 
 in controversy should be divided between the Colony and the 
 claiming towns of Hartford and Windsor. 
 
 The Colony was to have the western townships, viz., Nor- 
 folk, Goshen, Canaan, Cornwall, Kent, Salisbury and Sharon ; 
 and Hartford and Windsor, the eastern, viz., Torrington, 
 Barkhamsted, Colebrook, Harwinton, Hartland, Winchester 
 and New Hartford. 
 
 The legislature appointed a committee to view the town- 
 ships belonging to the Colony, who reported in May, 1733, as 
 their opinion that the legislature should grant all the moneys 
 which shall arise from the sale of the seven townships, to the 
 towns of this Colony which are now settled, to be divided to 
 them in proportion to the grand lists of said towns, and to ho 
 secured and improved forever, to the use of the schools kept
 
 47 
 
 in the several towns, according to law ; which report was 
 accepted, and a committee appointed to make sale of the 
 lands. 
 
 From this sale came the local fund of about 300 dollars 
 now held by this town, the interest of which has annually 
 been applied in accordance with the law. In the Revised 
 Statutes published in 1750, it was enacted that the money 
 distributed to towns and societies, and called " Local School 
 funds," remain a perpetual fund for the support of schools, 
 and for any application of the interest to other pxirposes, the 
 principal was to be paid back into the treasury of the Colony, 
 and the town or society was to lose the benefit thereof after- 
 wards, and such is the law to-day in regard to said fund. 
 
 While on the subject of the law, I may as well say that 
 Societies or Parishes for religious purposes were first estab- 
 lished in 1700 ; authorized to choose a clerk in 1716 ; a com- 
 mittee in 1717 ; a collector in 1721 ; a moderator in 172G, 
 and a treasurer ui 1764, and in 1717, the right to tax for 
 school purposes as well as for the support of the ministry. 
 Under this provision this Society had charge of the schools in 
 the Parish till 1795, when the moneys arising from the sale of 
 the western lands belonging to this State, were ordered to be 
 invested and called the " School Fund," and remain a perpet- 
 ual fund, " the interest of which shall be inviolably appropri- 
 ated to the support and encouragement of the public or 'com- 
 mon schools throughout the State, for the equal benefit of all 
 the people thereof." 
 
 In 1798, the management of schools passed from towns and 
 ecclesiastical societies as such to school societies especially 
 constituted for tliis purpose. 
 
 The Parish, from its organization, had taxed themselves 
 every year for the support of the ministry, for schools and 
 other purposes, until 1818, when the adoption of tlie present 
 State Constitution gave religious liberty and equality of civil 
 rights to all religious sects ; since which time the means for 
 the support of the gospel have been raised, sometimes by tax, 
 sometimes by sale of slips and voluntary contribution. 
 
 In 1789, the Parish " voted to raise hy tax, .£50 (167 dol- 
 lars) to be added to the " country money," to keep a school
 
 48 
 
 of two school masters for the three winter months, for writing 
 and reading, and to be removed from place to place for the 
 best advantage of the parish in general. And the rest of the 
 money to be improved in hiring scliool dames, to teach chil- 
 dren to read the rest of the year, as shall best suit the parish 
 in general, and appointed a committee to see that schools be 
 kept as above expressed." 
 
 I infer from these votes that there were no school houses in 
 the parish at this date, but the schools were kept in private 
 houses. 
 
 In 1744, the Parish, after voting to keep a school according 
 to law, and appointing Rev. Mr. Wheelock, Deacon John 
 Newcomb, and Mr. Josiah Finney, to see that it be done, also 
 "voted that the neighborhood adjacent to the meeting house 
 have liberty to build a school house on the commons near the 
 meeting house ; also that the neighborhood adjacent to Thomas 
 Porter have liberty to build a school house near said Thomas 
 Porter's house. 
 
 Also voted that the school house which Mr. Josiah Finney 
 has set on the highway should stand in that place." The 
 school house in the center district was probably not built by 
 the district at that time, but in stead was erected the house 
 for the " Indian Charity School," which is the present house 
 of the center district, remodeled, and which passed into the 
 hands of the district, I can not find when, or how, by any 
 record extant. 
 
 In 1768, a committee of three persons out of the parish, 
 were chosen to determine, divide and set off the school dis- 
 tricts in the parish. 
 
 In their report they say : " Whereas, there hath been three 
 districts, Middle, North and South, we are of opinion that they 
 remain the same, although at present the middle district, 
 being fewer in number, and less able to maintain a school, 
 recommend that the north part be reckoned with the north 
 district, and the south part with the south district, they having 
 right at any time when they shall be able and inclined, to 
 build a school house, and set up a school within their limits." 
 Until 1773, but three persons had been appointed school com- 
 mittee, probably one in each district. In that year five were
 
 49 
 
 appointed, one in each district that then existed, probably ; to 
 wit, " Henchman Bennet, Rufus CoUins, Jabez Wright, Na- 
 thaniel White, and Lieut. James Pineo." 
 
 The nest year six persons were appointed, the center dis- 
 trict probably having resumed their place as a district. 
 
 The six districts remained as they were then till the forma- 
 tion of school societies in 1788, and remain still the same, 
 with the addition of the south-west, the territory of which till 
 1816 was an unbroken forest, known as " Wells' Woods." 
 
 MUSIC. 
 
 At a Parish meeting February 21st, 1737, " voted to sing 
 in the public worship according to the rule by which they 
 sing in the old Society in Lebanon." "Also made choice of 
 Eleazer Hutchinson to set the psalm in the congregation." 
 
 " Also made choice of Joseph Clark to set the psalm when 
 Mr. Hutchinson is absent or can not." 
 
 With this arrangement they rested satisfied, so far as the 
 records show, till 1774, when on the 28th of June, a meeting 
 of the Parish was held and it was put to vote, " whether they 
 would sing by rule in the assembly ; voted m the affirmative." 
 
 Also " voted that the choristers should set such tunes as 
 they think proper." 
 
 This was doubtless a special meeting on the subject, as no 
 other business was transacted or votes passed. 
 
 In 1791, at their annual meeting, voted " a tax of one-half 
 penny on the pound to encourage singing, and to be applied 
 for that purpose only ; and chose Enos Gary and Asahel Allen 
 collectors of the singing tax." 
 
 In 1794, voted " that they desire Messrs. Samuel Bliss, Seth 
 Collins, Ambrose Collins and Samuel West Jr., to take turns 
 in leading the singing on Sundays." 
 
 In 1798, " James Pineo, Esq., John Newcomb, Seth Collins, 
 Samuel Bliss and Consider Little, were appointed a committee 
 to promote singing." 
 
 In 1806, voted " to request Samuel West, Jr., Benjamin 
 Lyman, Dan Porter, and William Hunt to lead in singing for 
 the year ensuing."
 
 50 
 
 In 1813, " Messrs. S. Barstow, S. Manley, G. Lincoln, J. 
 Richardson, E. Woodworth and N. Tanner, were appointed a 
 committee to get subscriptions to revive the singing, and to 
 hire a teacher if they get enough subscribed." 
 
 In 1819, " voted that Deacon Benjamin Lyman be requested 
 to revive the singing in this Society." 
 
 This is the last date, I believe, in which the Society, as 
 such, have acted in regard to singing. 
 
 The choir have usually circulated their own subscriptions, 
 hired their own teachers, and chosen their own choristers. 
 
 And although a body of persons whose sole object and aim 
 should be to make harmony in singing the songs of Zion in 
 the sanctuary of the Lord, it can not be denied, but that 
 sometimes elements of discord have found their way into the 
 choir, musically speaking, as well as otherwise. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS. 
 
 A reference to a few miscellaneous transactions of the 
 Society, and I will tire your patience no farther with the 
 prosy recital of Parish votes. 
 
 In 1750, the Parish voted " to allow Samuel Woodward 
 and his brethren liberty to build them a Sabbath day house, 
 some where near the old Meeting House, where the parish 
 committee think proper." 
 
 In 1751, voted ''to empower the parish committee to erect 
 a sign post, at some convenient place on the south side of the 
 Meeting House, and that proper notifications set on said post 
 for parish meetings shall be accounted legal." When the 
 Society became a town they, (the town,) by agreement with the 
 Society, made it their sign post, and when the present liouse 
 was erected, the town concurred in removing the sign post to 
 the place where it now stands. 
 
 In 1755, the following preamble and votes were passed : 
 
 " Whereas, Mr. Joshua More, of Mansfield, has given a lot 
 of land in the 2nd Society in Lebanon, for the foundation, 
 use and suppoi't of a Charity School, forever to be known and 
 called by the name of the Charity School in Lebanon, found- 
 ed by Joshua More for the education of Indians, &c." At a 
 legal meeting of said Society, Nov. 18, 1765, it was voted
 
 51 
 
 " that if said school shall be set up, that in order to their reg- 
 ular, comfortable and orderly attendance upon the public 
 worship of God, the boys in said school shall have for their 
 use, the pew in the gallery, over the west stairs in the Meet- 
 ing House ; and further provision suitable for them in said 
 Meeting House shall be made if there shall be occasion." 
 
 In 1761, "voted to allow Mr. Wheelock's Indian girls liber- 
 ty to sit in the hind seat on the women's side below." 
 
 The first half century of our Parish life closed in the year 
 1766. This had been a very prosperous period with both the 
 Church and the Society. The Society had built their large 
 and commodious house of worship, which, as tradition tells 
 us, was filled to overflowing ; the whole mass of the popula- 
 tion, at that period, being in the habit of attending church 
 regularly and constantly on the Sabbatli. They had emerged 
 from that trial state which is incidental to the settlement of a 
 new country ; they had been prospered in temporal things, 
 and had built for themselves those stately dwelling houses, 
 of which some of us, who are half century men, have a vivid 
 recollection, but of whicli very few now remain. 
 
 An event transpired at this time which though not a part 
 of our Society history, proper, yet so connected with it, tliat 
 a committee was appointed the next year which reported a 
 manifesto which occupies four pages of our Society records, 
 being adopted and placed there by vote of the Society.* 
 
 It was the sending to England, by Mr. Wheelock, of Rev. 
 Nathaniel Win taker, then pastor of the church in Chelsea, 
 (now Norwich Landing,) and Samson Occum, an Indian 
 preacher, both of whom had been educated in this place by 
 Dr. Wheelock.f 
 
 The next half century, closing with the year 1816, was 
 generally a period of trial with the Society, not on account of 
 divisions among themselves, but on account of the troubles 
 growing out of the conflict witli tlie "Mother Country," 
 whicli finally culminated in tlie Seven years war of the Revo- 
 lution, which gave us Independence and National life, but 
 which destroyed for a time our commerce, which before had 
 been so profitable, sweeping away many an estate which was 
 
 *Sec Note A, Appendix. tSee Note B, Appendix.
 
 5^ 
 
 supposed to be ample, and leaving heavy debts upon individ- 
 uals, as well as the nation, from which during this half cen- 
 tury they were hardly able to recover. They managed, how- 
 ever, to keep their light burning on this altar ; yet many were 
 burdened with pecuniary embarrassments, and heavy liens 
 upon the lands they cultivated, and to add still to this, just 
 at the close of this period, came a second war with England 
 to add its weight of trouble to their burdens. The culmina- 
 tion seemed to be in our century year 1816, which is the 
 memorable year of the present century, as the cold season. 
 It was chronicled at the close of the year that in New Eng- 
 land there were frosts during every month in the year. On 
 the 16th day of June, a heavy frost killed all the corn, so 
 that hardly a farmer in town raised a bushel of sound corn. 
 
 With the year 1817, commenced the last half century of 
 our Parish life, and with it came a year of fulness to the gar- 
 ners of the husbandmen, giving to them courage and hope, 
 and a happy presage of the prosperity and thrift which ha.s 
 rested upon us as a people for the last fifty years. 
 
 It has been emphatically a period of prosperity to this 
 community, and to the whole country. The improvements 
 in science, litierature, and arts, are unparalleled in any former 
 time. New motive powers have been discovered, by which 
 transporting vehicles of giant dimensions, and fitted up with 
 all the luxury of palatial dwellings, are rushed over land and 
 sea with a velocity that outstrips the wind, so that the dis- 
 tance between places at one extreme and the other of our 
 great country, is almost annihilated. 
 
 And yet again, we have set up poles and hung upon them 
 iron wires, tying together all the principal towns and villages, 
 all over our extended country ; and over these, through the 
 agency of a subtle element called electricity, we send messa- 
 ges all over the land, as quick as the "lightning that lighten- 
 eth out of one part under heaven shineth unto the other part 
 under heaven," so tliat New Orleans, with which it took 
 months to communicate at the commencement of our last 
 half century of Society life, now has its important news and 
 price-current published in the daily papers of all our New 
 England cities, on the day the event transpires.
 
 53 
 
 And within the past year we have had laid down amid the 
 coral and dark depths of ocean one of these wires, and are 
 now holding communication with the " mother country," on 
 the other side of the Atlantic. But I must suppress these 
 thoughts, which seem to come over me unbidden, while I 
 speak of our prosperity as a Society for the last half century 
 and then dose. 
 
 In 1816, the dwelling houses were mostly in a dilapidated 
 condition, weather-worn and mostly unpainted ; such as were 
 painted were a dingy red. I can recall to mind but two in 
 the town at that time that were painted white. All were 
 warmed by fires in the large old fashioned fire places of the 
 olden time. There were no stoves in towp ; no warming of 
 the meeting house whatever ; not more than two or three 
 houses with a carpet upon any of its floors ; no one horse 
 wagons, the people riding to church on horseback, very often 
 the man with his wife or daughter on a pillion behind him. 
 
 In two or three instances families living remote came in 
 heavy lumbering hacks, as they were then called, and which 
 was considered as rather an aristocratic way of going to 
 church. 
 
 I think I am safe in saying that the great mass of the people 
 in town at that time were more or less in debt. Money did 
 not circulate freely, and the business transactions were mostly 
 on credit ; the farmers getting their groceries of the merchant, 
 and in the fall paying the account in beef, pork, and tlie sur- 
 plus produce of their farms, feeling satisfied if they got money 
 enough to pay taxes. 
 
 To-day, as compared with fifty years ago, we are abundantly 
 blessed. The most of our dwellings have put off their brown, 
 and are painted white ; are comfortably furnished, warmed, 
 and carpeted. 
 
 The majority have probably been built new or essentially 
 remodeled. The lands are miich better cultivated, and the 
 products of our crops per acre are much greater than formerly. 
 Our farmers have, in the main, paid off their debts, and many 
 of them have a small surplus invested in stocks, or at interest. 
 And though we have no rich man in town, in the common 
 7
 
 54 
 
 acceptation of the term, yet the great mass of our people have 
 at their hands enough to satisfy all reasonable wants. The 
 evidence of rural improvement and taste is seen about most 
 of our dwellings, and I believe a good degree of comfort and 
 hospitality reigns within. The church in which we are now 
 convened, in its plain simplicity, and devoid as it is of archi- 
 tectural beauty, as compared with the old one in which in my 
 boyhood on many a winter's Sabbath day I have sat listening 
 to the creaking of its timbers, the rattling of window panes, 
 and the howling of winter witids, and waiting, not so much 
 " upon the Lord in his sanctuary," as for the lastly of the 
 minister's sermon, which foreshadowed a speedy deliverance 
 from the biting cold within its walls. I say as compared with 
 that, the present liouse seems to me to be about all we can 
 reasonably desire. But of the thousand thoughts which come 
 up in this connection I can not now speak. 
 
 Now in conclusion, let me say to the youth and children 
 present, a few, and but a few of whom will be present when 
 fifty years hence, the people of this Parish shall meet to cele- 
 brate the two hundredth anniversary of this Church and 
 Society, as I trust they will, may you so live that you may not 
 only give to the Lord a good account of your stewardship, but 
 pass over to your children the trusts which we commit to you. 
 
 And now I charge you that you guard well the interests of 
 this Church and Society. See to it that you keep the fire 
 burning brightly on this altar ; that these seats with each 
 returning Sabbath are filled with devout worshipers ; that 
 this desk is filled by a devout and faithful Pastor. Be kind 
 to the aged and bear with their infirmities as they totter down 
 the declivity of life, and when you shall grow old may you be 
 able to commit all these sacred trusts reposed in you to your 
 children, untarnished, unimpaired. 
 
 And finally, may we all so live as to be accounted faithful 
 stewards, and on "the other side Jordan" be permitted to 
 meet in reunion in that " city that hath no need of the sun, 
 neither of the moon, to shine in it, for the glory of God doth 
 lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof."
 
 65 
 
 ADDRESS, 
 
 By Rev. Charles Little, of Woodbuey. 
 
 Mr. President and Friends : 
 
 It is with peculiar satisfaction that I avail myself of this 
 privilege of addressing you. Returning to this home of my 
 childhood, for many years a wanderer, though not a fugitive, 
 over the face of the earth, to share in the festivities and 
 solemnities of this occasion, I have been in common with you 
 all, most deeply interested. 
 
 Permit me, sir, to congratulate yourself and the committee 
 of arrangements, on the success of this anniversary. I desire 
 to express my personal obligations to your pastor and others 
 who have labored so successfully to interest and instruct us. 
 
 This old town of Columbia, small as it is, and apart from 
 the whirl of business, has an honorable history. Her sons and 
 daughters need not be ashamed of their birth-place. Some 
 may tell us that " it is a good place from which to emigrate," 
 but I have felt to-day that it is a good place in which to live 
 and to die ; that here one may jfill up a useful life and exert 
 influences which shall magnify his own and others' happiness 
 throughout eternity. 
 
 Thronging memories come up to me of scenes in my child- 
 hood and early youth, upon which I love to dwell. 
 
 I remember those gorgeous sunsets witnessed from my 
 father's house, and those severe thunder storms which stirred 
 my youthful blood. It seems to me that I have never beheld 
 any since quite so grand and delightful. 
 
 I recall with pleasure those various schools which I attended, 
 common and select. Sabbath and singing. In respect to phys- 
 ical and temporal blessings I have never enjoyed myself so 
 well as then. Those were happy days. But my companions 
 in those scenes — where are they ? Some of them are here, 
 strong in manhood's prime, but the larger part are absent ; 
 many scattered over the land ; many in their graves. Look- 
 ing over this congregation I recognize a few of them, and
 
 66 
 
 others wlio were then in active hfe, now bent and white by 
 reason of age, but the majority here are strangers. 
 
 One hundred and fifty years ago ! What mighty changes 
 have occurred during this brief period ! Then the population 
 of this State was probably less than fifty thousand, only a few 
 hundreds more than are now living in the city of New Haven. 
 The settlements were confined to the vicinity of the Sound 
 and rivers, leaving the large part of the State an unbroken 
 forest. The far West was then this side the present city of 
 Utica. 
 
 Contrast the changes in the manner of living and in the 
 modes of conveyance ; mark the progress made in the subju- 
 gation of the wilderness, in the growth of cities and villages, 
 in new machinery and manufactures, in increased facilities 
 for business. 
 
 Within this time how has the world itself been enlarged and 
 at the same time compressed together ! Its vast territories, 
 then unknown, have been opened up to our knowledge ; its 
 population has increased from about seven hundred and fifty 
 millions to twelve hundred millions. Yet the ends of the 
 earth were never so near to each other as now. We can 
 travel round the globe in a few weeks, — we can exchange 
 morning and evening salutations with our brothers across the 
 ocean. 
 
 This occasion inspires within us thoughts and feelings too 
 precious to be forgotten. We feel our obligation to our fore- 
 fathers and foremothers. To them under God we owe this 
 rich inheritance. Their wisdom, toils and prayers obtained 
 for us this history, so honorable^and hallowed. How shall 
 we repay them ? We may do it by honoring their memories, 
 not only to-day but continually. We may do it by training 
 our children to excel ourselves in all that makes the useful 
 citizen, the efficient Christian. 
 
 We owe a large debt of gratitude to God for what he has 
 wrought in our town. For this church, for the institutions of 
 the gospel planted and preserved here, for revivals in years 
 long past, for refreshings in recent times, for the present 
 powerful work of grace, we are unspeakably indebted to Him.
 
 67 
 
 Oh what fervency of grateful love, what activity of sanctified 
 powers should be preseiited to Him who has thus wonderfully 
 proved His willingness to bless. From henceforth let us have 
 a stronger confidence in God that He will fulfill His promises, 
 that He will work out the redemption of the world. 
 
 We are here taught our duty to work for God. Had not 
 the generations whose deeds have been rehearsed in our hear- 
 ing,' labored for" God, these blessings would not have been 
 ours. Let us emulate their example ; let our consecration as 
 much exceed theirs as our privileges are greater than theirs. 
 
 Be encouraged, ye who have been long enrolled in Christ's 
 army. Fear not, faint not. Fight on, fight manfully. Vic- 
 tory, honor, trophies many, and crowns eternal shall be yours. 
 
 Ye who have recently entered the service of Christ, whether 
 days many or few remain, be faithful. Important is the work 
 before you. Be faithful and your Master shall reward you 
 with the plaudit—" Well done." 
 
 To the youth and children present, one word. We wish 
 you, we expect you to become better men, better women, 
 more useful citizens, more efficient Christians than your 
 fathers and mothers have been. Your privileges are great, 
 your opportunities are vast, your obligations are infinite. I 
 charge you, be true to yourselves, be true to your God. 
 
 This is indeed a joyous occasion. It is delightful, this 
 review of the past ; this revival of former friendsliips ; this 
 social intercourse ; this interchange of feeling ; this hallowed 
 communion with each other, and perchance with the spirits 
 of many whose bodies rest in these cemeteries ; but I must 
 not dwell. 
 
 I look forward with confident hope to another re union more 
 blessed than this. There will be families in unbroken suc- 
 cession. There, from many parts of tliis land, from the red 
 men of the forest, from the idolaters of India, will be gathered 
 many witnesses to the fidelity and power of this church. 
 
 Plere we meet for a few hours and part to sec eacli other 
 no more in the flesh, but there our re-union will continue for- 
 ever. There through cycles endless, we shall progress in the 
 service, the love, the joy of God our Father, and of His Son 
 our Saviour. May we all be there.
 
 58 
 
 MOOR'S II^DIAj^ charity SCHOOL, 
 ITS SCHOOLMASTERS AXD MISSIONARIES. 
 
 By the Pastor. 
 
 Among the earliest missionary efforts in the conntry, long 
 before the organization of the " American Board," must be 
 noted the Indian Missionary School of Rev. Eleazar Wheel- 
 ock, pastor of the church in Lebanon Crank, now Columbia. 
 This enterprise deserves notice, particularly because of its 
 early date and worthy intention. It, however, was not with- 
 out some good fruit in its work among the Indian tribes, and 
 is to be regarded as of peculiar interest and importance, as 
 leading to the establishment of Dartmouth College. 
 
 In December, 1743, Mr. Wheelock received into his family 
 school, Samson Occom, a Mchegan Indian, whose successful 
 course of education led to the project of training Indian youth 
 to become missionaries to the various accessible tribes. For 
 the encouragement of this enterprise Mr. Joshua Moor, of 
 Mansfield, gave a lot of land near the center of the parish. A 
 school house was soon built, situated on the corner east of 
 the Hartford, and south of the Willimantic road, opposite 
 wliich, at the north, was Dr. Wheelock's house. The school 
 was sustained, and the missionaries sent out from it were 
 supported by appropriations from the legislatures of Connec- 
 ticut and Massachusetts, by funds received from England to 
 the amount of seven thousand pounds sterling, of which the 
 King gave two hundred pounds, by funds of the Scotch Society . 
 for Propagating Christian Knowledge, and by other church 
 and individual contributions.* 
 
 This project assumed such importance at the time that it 
 received the hearty commendation of the following neighbor- 
 ing ministers, in a paper drawn up and signed by them, under* 
 date of" Chelsea in Norwich, July 10, 1762 :" 
 
 * See Note B, Appendix.
 
 59 
 
 Ebenezer Rosseter, pastor of the first church in Stonington. 
 
 Joseph Fish, " second " " 
 
 Nathaniel Whitaker, " 
 
 Benjamin Pomeroy, " 
 
 Elijah Lathrop, " 
 
 Nathaniel Eells, " 
 
 Mather Byles, " 
 
 Jonathan Barber, " 
 
 Matthew Graves, missionary at New London. 
 
 Peter Powers, pastor of the church in Newent. 
 
 Daniel Kirkland, formerly pastor at Newent. 
 
 
 a 
 
 Chelsea. 
 
 first 
 
 a 
 
 Hebron. 
 
 
 a 
 
 Gilead. 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 Stonington. 
 
 first 
 
 a 
 
 New London. 
 
 
 u 
 
 Groton. 
 
 Asher Rosseter, 
 
 (( 
 
 first church 
 
 Preston. 
 
 Jabez Wright, 
 
 ti 
 
 fourth 
 
 (( 
 
 Norwich. 
 
 David Jewott, 
 
 a 
 
 second 
 
 a 
 
 New London. 
 
 Benjamin Throop, 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 Norwich. 
 
 Samuel Mosely, 
 
 u 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 Windham. 
 
 Stephen White, 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 u 
 
 Richard Salter, 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 Mansfield. 
 
 Timothy Allen, 
 
 a 
 
 
 u 
 
 Ash ford. 
 
 Ephraim Little, 
 
 a 
 
 first 
 
 a 
 
 Colchester. 
 
 Hobart Estabrook, 
 
 i(. 
 
 a 
 
 u 
 
 East Haddam 
 
 Joseph Fowler, 
 
 a 
 
 u 
 
 u 
 
 a 
 
 Benjamin Boardman, 
 
 u 
 
 fourth 
 
 (; 
 
 Middletown. 
 
 John Norton, 
 
 u 
 
 sixth 
 
 u 
 
 u 
 
 Benjamin Dunning, 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 a 
 
 Marlborough 
 
 Besides this we have another paper of commendation, dated 
 New Jersey, September 5, 1765, which, among many other 
 words, bears this testimony: 
 
 " We whose names are hereunto subscribed do certify that 
 we have had frequent opportunities of being well-informed of 
 an Indian Charity School which was some years ago instituted 
 in the Colony of Connecticut, and which, by the continued 
 smiles of Heaven, hath remarkably succeeded under the care 
 of the Rev. and worthy Mr. Eleazar Wheelock, <fec . 
 Thomas Gage, Commander-in-chief of His Majesty's fbrces in 
 
 America. 
 Francis Bernard, Governor of Massachusetts. 
 Benjamin Wentworth, Governor of New Hampshire.
 
 60 
 
 "William Franklin, Governor of New Jersey. 
 
 John Penn, Lieutenant Governor of Pennsvlvania. 
 
 Thomas Fitch, Governor of Connecticut. 
 
 Cadwallader Golden, Lieutenant Governor of New York. 
 
 William Allen, Chief Justice of Pennsylvania. 
 
 Frederick Smith, Chief Justice of New Jersey. 
 
 Theodore Atkinson, Chief Justice Superior Court of New 
 Hampshire. 
 
 Mark H. Wentworth, of His Majesty's Council in New Hamp- 
 shire. 
 
 Daniel Warner, Judge of the Common Pleas in New Hamp- 
 shire. 
 
 William Smith, Justice of Superior Court in New York. 
 
 Peter Levins, of his Majesty's Council in New Hampshire. 
 
 Samuel Woodruff, of his Majesty's Council in New Jersey. 
 
 Joseph Shippen, Secretary of Pennsylvania. 
 
 Theodore Atkinson, Jr., Secretary of New Hampshire. 
 
 W. P. Smith, Mayor of Elizabethtown, New Jersey. 
 
 Andrew Elliott, Collector in New York. 
 
 Henry Sherbourn, of the House of Representatives, New 
 Hampshire. 
 
 John Goff, of the House of Eepresentatives, New Hampshire. 
 
 William Smith, Jr., Lawyer in New York. 
 
 John Morin Scott, Lawyer in New York. 
 
 William Livingston, Lawyer in New York. 
 
 Henry Wisner, of the General Assembly in New York. 
 
 Eleazar Miller, of the General Assembly in New York. 
 
 John Redman, M. D., in Philadelphia. 
 
 John Morgan, M. D., in Philadelphia. 
 
 William Farquhar, Benjamin Y. Prime, James Smith, Physi- 
 cians in New York. 
 
 Abraham Gardner, Col. in East Hampton. 
 
 Samuel Smith, Daniel Roberdeau, Merchants in Philadelphia. 
 
 P. y. B. Livingston, James Jauncey, David Shaw, Garr. 
 Rapalje, John Smith, John Provost, John Vender Spiegel, 
 William M'Adams, Laurence Read, Dirk Brinkerhoff, Gar- 
 rat Noel, Merchants in New York.
 
 61 
 
 Samuel Sebury, Thomas B. Chandler, D. D., Jacob Duche, 
 Ministers and Missionaries of the Church of England, by- 
 order of the Presbytery of New York, James Caldwell, 
 Clerk. 
 John Ewing, Charles Beatty, Richard Treat, John Strain, 
 
 Ministers in Pennsylvania. 
 Samuel Finley, D. D., President of the College in N. J. 
 Lambertus De Ronde, Archibald Laidlie, Joan Ritzema, John 
 Albert Weygand, Ministers of the Protestant Dutch Church 
 in New York. 
 Thomas Jackson, Preacher of the gospel in New York. 
 Ebenezer Prime, Thomas Lewis, Silvanus White, James 
 
 Brown, Samuel Buel, Ministers on Long Island. 
 Naphtali Daggett, S. T. P. in Yale College, Connecticut. 
 Jonathan Parsons, Minister in Newbury, Massachusetts. 
 Samuel Haven, Minister in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. 
 John Rogers, Joseph Treat, Ministers in New York. 
 
 The number of scholars ranged from fifteen to twenty-five, 
 about one half Indians, the others being English youth devo- 
 ted chiefly to the work of missions among the Indians. The 
 principal tribes from which these Indian pupils came, and the 
 method of conducting this enterprise will be fairly indicated 
 by this record of a hundred years ago : 
 
 " March 12, 1765, the Board of Correspondents met to ex- 
 amine Mr. Titus Smith and Mr. Theophilus Chamberlain, of 
 their qualification for missionaries, and approved them. And 
 also examined and approved David Fowler, a Montauk Indian, 
 and Joseph Woolley and Hezekiah Calvin, Delawares, for 
 schoolmasters among the Indians. They also examined Jacob 
 Fowler, a Montauk, Moses, Johannes, Abraham Primus, 
 Abraham Secundus, and Peter, Mohawks, and approved them 
 as well accomplished for schoolmasters, excepting their want 
 of age, and therefore appointed them to serve in the capacity 
 of ushers, under the direction and conduct of the mission- 
 aries." 
 
 Of those who were actually sent out as missionaries only a 
 brief mention can here be made. 
 
 Samson Occom, born in 1723, was ordained by the Suffolk
 
 62 
 
 Presbytery on Long Island, and labored among tbe Montauk 
 Indians, the Oneidas, and several other tribes, until 1766, 
 when he was sent to England, in company with Rev. Mr. 
 Whitaker, to solicit aid for the school. Being the first Indian 
 preacher that had ever visited that couirtry, he quickly enlisted 
 an interest in himself personally, and in his mission, which 
 proved a very successful one. He gained the reputation, both 
 at home and abroad, of being an able and impressive preacher. 
 His labors among the Indians were attended with the blessing 
 of God. He preached a sermon on the execution of an Indian 
 at New Haven, in 1772, which was published. He wrote an 
 account of the Montauk Indians, which is still in manuscript. 
 He was the author of that familiar and stirring hymn, 
 "Awaked by Sinai's awful sound." In the latter part of his 
 life he labored at various places -in the vicinity 'of Albany, and 
 a barn is still pointed out in the Mohawk valley by those who 
 heard him preach in it seventy-five or eighty years ago. He 
 died in New Stockbridge, New York, July 14, 1792, in the 
 sixty-ninth year of his age. 
 
 It does not appear that any other Indian youth from Dr. 
 Wheelock's school became ordained missionaries. Many, 
 however, were sent out as schoolmasters, and schools which 
 promised well for a time were gathered in several of the tribes 
 of the Six Nations. Here is a peep into one of these schools 
 which we take through the eyes of one of the missionaries : 
 " I am every day diverted and pleased with a view of Moses 
 and his school, as I can sit in my study and see him and all 
 his scholars at any time, the school house being nothing but 
 an open barrack ; and I am much pleased to see eight, ten or 
 twelve, and sometimes more scholars sitting round their bark 
 table, some reading, some writing, and others a studying, and 
 all engaged, to appearance, with as much seriousness and 
 attention as you will see in almost any worshiping assembly, 
 and Moses at the head of them with the gravity of a divine of 
 fifty or threescore." 
 
 And here are a few words from one of these schoolmasters, 
 David Fowler, of the Montauk tribe, writing to Dr. Whcelock 
 from his station among the Oneidas :
 
 ' 
 
 63 
 
 " Kanavaroliare [Canajoharie,] June 15, 1765. 
 Honored and Rev. Sir, 
 
 This is the twelfth day since I began to keep this school, 
 and I have put eight of my scholars into the third page of their 
 spelling book ; some have got almost down to the bottom of 
 said page. I never saw children exceed these in learning. 
 The number of my scholars are twenty-six, when they are all 
 present, but it is difficult to keep them together. They are 
 often roving about from place to place to get something to 
 live upon. I am also, teaching a singing school. They take 
 great pleasure in learning to sing. We can already carry 
 three parts of several tunes. My friends are always looking 
 for the ministers. There is scarce a day passes over but 
 somebody will ask me, — 'When will the minister come?'" 
 
 How many of Dr. Wheelock's Indian students actually be- 
 came schoolmasters we can not tell, but at one time eight are 
 spoken of as thus engaged, with 127 children under their care. 
 Some of these youth gave evidence of true piety., and entered 
 upon this work in the spirit of missionaries. As an illustra- 
 tion of this, take these words of Joseph Wooley, a school- 
 master among the Mohawks : " The language of my heart is, 
 to contribute the little mite I have to the living God, and be 
 in his service. My soul seems to be more and more upon the 
 perishing pagans in these woods. I long for the conversion 
 of their souls, and that they may come to the knowledge of 
 our Lord Jesus Christ, and be saved. I wish I was made able 
 to teach and instruct them, and I shall do whatever lies in my 
 power to tell them of Christ as long as I tarry." 
 
 Among those who sought instruction at this school was the 
 celebrated Mohawk chief, Joseph Brant. He was born in 
 1742, and, with other Indian youth, was sent here by Sir 
 William Johnson. Espousing, as was most natural, the cause 
 of the English against the Revolutionists, he became the for- 
 midable enemy of the American forces. Wise in council, 
 brave in action, and a terror to his adversaries, yet he was not 
 without magnanimity as a warrior. In the work of missions 
 among his people, he rendered very essential service, becom- 
 ing an interpreter to the missionaries, and assisting them in
 
 64 
 
 other ways, making his house an asyhim for them in the wil- 
 derness. About the year 1772 he united with the church and 
 was very zealous in his efforts to christianize his people. At 
 the close of the Revolutionary struggle he directed his atten- 
 tion particularly to the social and moral elevation of the 
 Indians, in which work he had great obstacles to oppose. He 
 endeavored to secure for them systematic religious instruc- 
 tion. He was disposed, at one time, to acquire a knowledge 
 of the Greek language, in order to make a more accurate 
 translation of the New Testament into his native tongue. 
 While in England he published the " Book of Common 
 Prayer," and the gospel of Mark, in Mohawk and English, 
 and he there collected funds for the first Episcopal church 
 which was built in Canada West. He died with a triumphant 
 Christian faith, November 24, 1807, at the age of sixty-five. 
 
 Of the English students in Dr. Wheelock's school, the first 
 who went out as a missionary to the Indians, was Rev. Charles 
 Jeffrey Smith. He was graduated at Yale College, in 1757, 
 and was ordained as a missionary in Lebanon Crank, in 1763. 
 After a short period of service among the Indians, he went to 
 Virginia, to labor for the instruction of the slaves. He was 
 subject to a disease which caused violent pain in the head, and 
 while on a visit to Long Island he went out with his gun on 
 the morning of August 10, 1770, and was soon found dead, 
 under circumstances indicating that he had shot himself. 
 
 Samuel Kirkland, son of Rev. Daniel Kirkland, pastor of 
 the third Congregational Church in Norwich, (now Lisbon,) 
 was born at Norwich, December 1, 1741. At the age of 
 twenty, he entered this school ; was graduated at Princeton 
 College, New Jersey, in 1765, leaving College a few months 
 before graduation to engage in his mission to the Indians ; a 
 work to which he had given himself from very early life. In 
 company with two Seneca Indians, he set out, November 20, 
 1764, on a missionary expedition to their own tribe, the most 
 remote and the most savage of the Six Nations. The snow 
 was four feet deep, and he traveled on snow-shoes, with his 
 pack of provisions on his back, more than two hundred miles 
 into the wilderness, without paths or houses to lodge in.
 
 65 
 
 After an absence of about a year and a half, a period of great 
 hardship and peril, yet of some encouragement in his work, 
 he returned to Connecticut, bringing a Seneca chief with him. 
 
 On the 19th of June, 1766, he was ordained at Lebanon 
 Crank, and on the same day received a general commission as 
 an Indian Missionary from the Connecticut " Board of Cor- 
 respondents" of the Society in Scotland for Propagating 
 Christian Knowledge ; a board which was constituted July 4, 
 1764, to have the supervision of these Indian missions. In 
 ab^ut six weeks he Avas again at his mission work, taking up 
 his residence among the Oneidas, where he continued to labor, 
 with some interruptions, for more than forty years. A Chris- 
 tian church was soon organized iinder his ministrations, 
 which, by occasional accessions, showed a good degree of 
 prosperity. His labors were partially suspended during the 
 Kevolutionary war, though he continued to hold such an in- 
 fluence as to keep the Oneidas and part of the Mohawks on 
 friendly terms with the Americans, while nearly all in the 
 other tribes of the Six Nations took the position of active 
 hostility. In 1779 he was Brigade Chaplain with General 
 Sullivan, having previously been employed in procuring intel- 
 ligence of the designs and movements of the enemy at Niagara. 
 In the spring of 1784 he resumed his missionary work at 
 Oneida. Two years afterwards his labors were attended with, 
 a considerable revival of religion, which seemed to have its 
 beginning in the conversion of a strong minded Indian more 
 than seventy years old, who up to that time had been a bigoted 
 pagan. 
 
 In 1788, Mr. Kirkland and his two eldest sons received 
 from the Indians and the State of New York conjointly, a 
 grant of large and valuable tracts of land in the vicinity of 
 Oneida, on which he built for himself a log house. In 1790, 
 while on a mission to Congress in behalf of the Senecas, he 
 was instrumental in the conversion of the celebrated chief, 
 Cornplanter, to the Christian faith. " In the winter of 1791-2, 
 ])y request of the Secretary of War, he conducted about forty 
 chiefs and warriors, a representation of five nations, to Phila- 
 delphia, to consult with Congress on the best method of intro-
 
 66 
 
 ducing the blessings of civilization among them, and also with 
 a view of preserving peace between the Indians and the Uni- 
 ted States. This visit had the desired effect, and not only 
 secured to the United States the friendship of the Six Nations, 
 rendering them mediators between the Federal Government 
 and the Western Indians, but also securing to the Sis Nations 
 an increased degree of favor from the Government in the pro- 
 motion of education and civilization among them." 
 
 In 1793 Mr, Kirkland accomplished what had long been a 
 favorite object with him, in securing a charter for an institu- 
 tion under the name of Hamilton Oneida Academy, to which 
 he made a donation of several hundred acres of land. This 
 Academy, in 1812, four years after his death, was exalted to 
 the rank of a College, in the first class of which, at gradua- 
 tion, with only one associate, was the Rev. George A. Cal- 
 houn, D. D., of North Coventry. This is now Hamilton Col- 
 lege, at Clinton, New York. 
 
 Mr. Kirkland continued his labors among the Indians as he 
 was able, and died February 28, 1808, aged sixty-six. His 
 son, John Thornton Kirkland, was President of Harvard 
 University from 1810 to 1828. He is the only missionary 
 from Dr. Wheelock's school who spent his whole life among 
 the Indians. Several others were distinctly set apart to this 
 work, but during the distractions of the war, and from other 
 influences, their connection with the work was of short dura- 
 tion. 
 
 Among these were Messrs. Titus Smith and Theophilus 
 Chamberlain, who were ordained as missionaries April 24, 
 1765, the latter graduating at Yale College in the same year, 
 and the former in the year next preceding. They were with 
 Dr. Wheelock several months, to prepare for the mission. 
 Mr. Chamberlain had formerly been taken captive by the In- 
 dians, and became so much interested in their welfare that he 
 spent all his property and ran in debt in order to fit himself 
 to preach the gospel among them. 
 
 Mr. Sylvanus Ripley was early ordained as a missionary to 
 the Indians. After his labors were closed in that capacity, 
 he took the charge of the mission school, then connected with
 
 67 
 
 Dartmouth College. In 1782 he became Professor of Divinity 
 in the College, and succeeded Dr. Wlieelock in the pastoral 
 charge of the students and the inhabitants of the -village of 
 Hanover. 
 
 Levi Frisbie, born in Branford, April, 1748, was placed 
 under the care of Dr. Wheelock in 1767, with a view to his 
 becoming a missionary. He was graduated at Dartmouth 
 College in 1771. In the two following years he was engaged 
 in a mission to the Delaware Indians. He was ordained in 
 1775, and continued in his mission work till broken off by the 
 distracted state of the country. He was settled over the first 
 church in Ipswich, Massachusetts, February 7, 1776, where he 
 remained thirty years, and died February 25, 1806, at the age 
 of fifty-eight. 
 
 In company with Mr. Frisbie, David McClure was also en- 
 gaged in the mission among the Delawares. He was born at 
 Newport, Rhode Island, November 18, 1748. His youthful 
 days were spent chiefly in Boston, in the school of the famous 
 "Master Lovell." At the age of fifteen he became a member 
 of Dr. Wheelock's school with a view to engage as a mission- 
 ary among the Indians. He was graduated at Yale College 
 in 1769. He was ordained May 20, 1772, and after the ex- 
 perience of a few months in the missionary work was com- 
 pelled to desist because of the war. After a ministry of nine 
 years in Northampton, Massachusetts, he was installed pastor 
 of the church in East Windsor, (now South Windsor,) June 
 11, 1786, where he died June 25, 1820, aged seventy-one, 
 having held the pastoral office there thirty-four years. 
 
 David Avery, born in Franklin, April 5, 1746, was also, for 
 a short time, engaged in this missionary work. He was hope- 
 fully converted under the preaching of Whitfield ; was fitted 
 for College in Dr. Wheelock's school ; was graduated at Yale 
 College in 1769 ; and was ordained as missionary to the Oneida 
 Indians as colleague with Hev. Mr. Kirkland. In consequence 
 of an injury received, he was soon obliged to leave the mis- 
 sion ; and after preaching on Long Island a short time, he was 
 settled over a church in Gaysboro, (now Windsor,) Vermont, 
 March 25, 1773. The Sabbath after the news of the battle of
 
 68 
 
 Lexington reached his place, he preached his farewell sermon, 
 telling the people that God would take care of them ; as for 
 himself he was going to join the army. When the congrega- 
 tion was dismissed, he took his stand upon the steps and gave 
 a soul-stirring address in behalf of his country, entreating his 
 people, "by every motive of patriotism, and as they valued 
 liberty and abhorred slavery, not to turn a deaf ear to her cry." 
 Twenty of his parishioners gave a quick response to his ap- 
 peal, chose him captain, shouldered their muskets and started 
 on foot for Boston, and in ten days from the battle at Lexing- 
 ton they were in their camp at Cambridge. The next day, 
 which was the Sabbath, standing upon a temporary stage, 
 formed by turning up a rum hogshead, in the area of Cam- 
 bridge College, he preached from Nehemiah 4 ; 14, " And I 
 looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles and rulers, and 
 to the rest of the people. Be not afraid of them ; remember 
 the Lord which is great and terrible, and fight for your breth- 
 ren, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your 
 homes." While holding his position as captain, he instituted 
 daily religious services, going from teiit to tent to read the 
 word of God. 
 
 He was at the battle of Bunker Hill; saw the defeat of our 
 army at the battle of Long Island ; was by the side of Wash- 
 ington in his melancholy retreat through the Jerseys; was 
 present at the taking of Burgoyne, at the capture of the Hes- 
 sians at Trenton, and in the battle of Princeton; was in the 
 army during that terrible winter at Yalley Forge; helped 
 build the fortifications at Ticonderoga ; was by the side of 
 Washington when he signed the death warrant of Andre, and 
 witnessed the execution of that ill-fated British ofiicer ; and 
 was very active in the efforts which were made to capture the 
 traitor Arnold. Having served his country as captain and 
 afterwards as chajDlain from the beginning to the end of the 
 war, he preached successively at Bennington, Vermont, at 
 Wrentham, Massachusetts, and Chaplin, Connecticut, and 
 died in September, 1818, aged seventy-two. 
 
 This missionary enterprize among the Indians was begun 
 with much promise ; was carried on in the face of increasing
 
 69 
 
 obstacles, with a true Christian and commendable zeal, and if 
 it did not reach the full anticipations, this must be attributed 
 in part to the on-coming Revolutionary struggle, and in part 
 to the impracticability of turning the Indian character to very 
 extensive service in the work of missions. How much good 
 was actually accomplished, — how many of those Indian sovils 
 were turned from paganism to the saving reception of Christ, 
 eternity alone can reveal. It is to be noticed that the success 
 which attended these early missionary efforts among the In- 
 dians is very much like the success which has attended the 
 efforts of later days. They are an unsettled roving people, 
 and if any thing is to be done for their spiritual welfare, it 
 must be done under these unfavorable circumstances. And 
 no one can say that all that has been done for them is not fully 
 justified by the actual spiritual renovation which, in individ- 
 ual instances, may have been wrought by the Spirit and the 
 Word.
 
 70 
 
 TRIBUTE TO THE MEMORY OF REV. E. WHEELOCK, D. D., 
 
 FOUNDER OF MOOR'S CHARITY SCHOOL AND 
 
 DARTMOUTH COLLEGE. 
 
 By Dr. 0. B. Lyman. 
 
 The past in scanning, much we often find, 
 To please and interest the inquiring mind: 
 Old things not always are devoid of worth. 
 When found connected with one's place of birth ; 
 And often, light upon the mind is cast. 
 As we compare the Present with the Past. 
 
 We plant an acorn — 'tis a little thing — 
 A little plant will from that acom spring ; 
 In a few years will rise above our heads 
 A giant oak, that wide its branches spreads, 
 Destined to stand perhaps a thousand years, 
 'Mid storm and cahn — at last it disappears. 
 
 One hundred years ago, a man of worth. 
 
 With a big heart — Old Windham gave him birth — 
 
 Started in Lebanon — Columbia now the name — 
 
 A little school the forest sons to tame: 
 
 Here the poor Indian sought for mental food, 
 
 Here Occum found, that God was righteous, good : 
 
 That pale men too, instruction here received, 
 
 Here sought the truth, here found, and here believed. 
 
 Here Occum was prepared to preach the Word, 
 
 And set before his race his dying Lord : 
 
 Hence too he went to visit England's shore, 
 
 Preach to her king — sight never seen before. 
 
 From this, the thought in Wheelock's mind arose. 
 
 To found a College ere his life should close, 
 
 Wliere the poor pagan might be led to find 
 
 Light, food and drink, for his benighted mind, 
 
 As well as he who wears a lighter skin, 
 
 But has a soul as deeply stained with sin. 
 
 Thus DartmoviKs seed was sown and sprouted here, 
 
 At least, in Wheelock's mind, with fervent prayer.
 
 71 
 
 He now before his people laid his plan, 
 Elsewhere, to consummate the work began. 
 With deep regret they heard his earnest plea, 
 Reluctantly consent it might so be.* 
 From the great woi'k he could not well be turned, 
 His heart for it with love increasing burned. 
 Occum had touched a chord in England's heart, 
 Thrilling it with sympathy in every part. 
 Its warmest friend Lord Dartmouth soon became. 
 And hence the institution took its name- 
 King George himself enchanted with the theme. 
 Became a donor to the glorious scheme, 
 And by his lords and men of high renown, 
 The same good feeling for the cause was shown : 
 Wheelock was moved with an increase of toil, 
 To transplant Dartmouth to a northern soil. 
 And like Elisha in the wilderness, 
 A school of Prophets found that God would bless : 
 So hence to Hampshire 'neath her lofty pine, 
 That gleam and sing in light and notes divine, 
 Removed from hills, on an extensive plain, 
 Where undisturbed the school might long remain, 
 There like a Patriarch, he, full of years, 
 Planted and watered Dartmouth with his tears: 
 Yes, lived to see her rooted deep and strong, 
 With every prospect of her living long. 
 Like Solomon's father, what he had begun, 
 To finish up, he left behind, his son : 
 Like good old Simeon, serene and calm. 
 His infant school now resting on his arm, — 
 His arm of faith, upheld by God's free grace, 
 He now could say, "let me depart in peace!" 
 His course thus finished, like a star at even, 
 He sank to rest, a brilliant gem of heaven ! 
 
 Thus, as the oak that from the acorn sprung. 
 
 Has towered high, its branches wide outflung, 
 
 So Dartmouth stands, though small indeed at birth, 
 
 A school matured and full of sterling worth : 
 
 A monument bespeaking noblest praise, 
 
 To Wheelock's memory, in remotest days. 
 
 * See Note A, Appendix.
 
 72 
 
 STATEME]:^rTS A^D STATISTICS. 
 
 By Kev. William H. Mooee. 
 
 The population of your town in 1840 was 842 ; in 1860, 
 854, — a gain of twelve. 
 
 It is worthy of notice that your church has so generally 
 been supplied with pastors, not having been destitute over 
 fifteen years in 150. 
 
 Twelve revivals are named since 1780, or, on an average, 
 one in seven years. 
 
 Sixteen ministers have been raised up from this parish, — 
 one in ten years, and it has thus furnished about 300 years of 
 ministerial service in Connecticut, and about 175 years out- 
 side of Connecticut, including forty-four years among the 
 heathen; — making about 475 years in all. 
 
 In January 1, 1832, the church reported 155 members, 
 which included the addition by the revival of 1831; which, 
 namely, forty-one, being deducted would leave the member- 
 ship before the revival, 114. In January 1, 1866, there were 
 132 members, or fifteen per cent, of the population. The 
 fruits of the present revival will increase the ratio to twenty 
 per cent. 
 
 The General Association has published the statistics of the 
 churches for thirty-five years, beginning in 1832. In seven 
 of these years your church made no report ; in twenty-eight 
 years they made reports. In eleven of these none were added 
 by profession ; in twenty-six of them infants were baptized. 
 In the twenty-eight years reported, 165 came in by profession, 
 or six a year; and seventy-six died, or three a year ; the pro- 
 fessions being double the deaths, which is a good record. In 
 these years there came in by letter, fifty-one ; went out by let- 
 ter, fifty; which shows that the church does not diminish 
 from this source. Dividing these years into two periods of 
 fourteen, each, we fiiid that the deaths in the two periods are
 
 73 
 
 nearly equal, thirty-seven and thirty-nine ; as well as the in- 
 fant baptisms, fifty-seven and fifty-eight. The ratio of infants 
 baptized to a thousand members, is thirty-one. You ought to 
 be gratified with this record on infant baptism. And I hope 
 the ratio will not fall during the administration of your pres- 
 ent pastor, and that that may exceed the term of any of his 
 predecessors.
 
 75 
 
 APPEISTDIX. 
 
 PROCEEDINGS AND ORDER OF EXERCISES. 
 
 Some time in the year 1865 the question was asked, Shall the cel- 
 ebration of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the formation 
 of the Church in Columbia be observed ? A general public sentiment 
 seemed to answer — Yes. This event was to occur some time in the 
 year 1866, the precise date of which could not be ascertained, but still 
 no special action was taken towards the furtherance of this desire until 
 June 29th, 1866, when it was "voted by the church to have an anni- 
 versary celebration the present year, it being the one hundred and 
 fiftieth year since the organization of the church and ecclesiastical 
 society in this place," and at the same time 
 
 "Rev. Frederick D. Avert, 
 
 John S. Yeomans, 
 
 William B. Little, 
 Deac. Chester W. Lyman, and 
 
 David D. Little, 
 were appointed a committee to make preliminary arrangements. 
 
 Requests were also made to Rev. F. D. Avery and John S. Yeo- 
 mans to prepare Historical Papers relating to the early history of the 
 Church and Society. 
 
 The committee of arrangements subsequently met and fixed upon 
 the 24th day of October as the day of celebration. They also decided 
 to have a general collation, .and for the furtherance of this object 
 appointed 
 
 William H. Yeomans, 
 
 Silas H. Dewey, 
 
 Henry E. Lyman, 
 
 Daniel T. Fuller, 
 
 Samuel B. West, and 
 
 James P. Little, 
 a committee on collation. 
 
 They also appointed Samuel F. West, Esq., to be President of 
 the day, and arranged their order of exercises.
 
 76 
 
 ORDER OF EXERCISES. 
 
 MORNING. 
 Voluntary ; Anthem, — Praise God from whom all blessings flow. 
 Reading of Scriptures bj the Pastor. 
 
 HYMN. 
 
 Tune^ Boylston. 
 
 1. Great is the Lord our God, 
 
 And let his praise be great; 
 He makes his churches his abode, 
 His most delightful seat. 
 
 2. These temples of his grace, 
 
 How beautiful they stand ! 
 
 The honors of our native place, 
 
 And bulwarks of our land. 
 
 3. In Zion God is known, 
 
 A refuge in distress : 
 How bright hath his salvation shone, 
 Through all her palaces ! 
 
 4. Oft have our fathers told, 
 
 Our eyes have often seen, 
 How well our God secures the fold. 
 Where his own sheep have been. 
 
 5. In every new distress. 
 
 We'll to his house repair. 
 We'll think upon his wondrous grace, 
 And seek deliverance there. 
 
 Prayer by Rev. S. G. Willaed, of WilHmantic. 
 
 ANNIVERSARY HYMN. 
 
 Words by Doct. O. B. Lyman, of Hartford. 
 Tune, Salome. 
 1. Since this fair branch from yonder vine. 
 Was plucked and planted in this soil, 
 And since was built this holy shrine, 
 
 'Midst earnest prayer and praise and toil, 
 One hundred fifty years have fled ; 
 The fathers sleep now with the dead.
 
 77 
 
 2. Great God! we tread these courts to-day, 
 
 To celebrate that hour divine, 
 "When our forefathers led the way. 
 
 To plant and rear this precious vine; 
 This vine they watered with their tears, 
 That fruit might grow in future years. 
 
 3. It has been watched and pruned and kept, 
 
 Through God's dear children until now, 
 Here they have praised and prayed and wept. 
 
 And here submissive still they bow; 
 Still earnestly they press their suit, 
 That it may bear much precious fruit. 
 
 4. Here sinners too are wont to cry 
 
 For mercy to our father's God, 
 That he would hear them from on high. 
 And stay yet his avenging rod ; 
 - Oh God of Love ! incline thine ear, 
 The suppliant's earnest prayer to hear. 
 
 5. And as the years roll swiftly on, 
 
 To make complete this century too, 
 And we our labors shall have done. 
 
 And bid the scenes of earth adieu. 
 Still may this branch, this precious vine, 
 Bear for our children fruit divine. 
 
 Reading of the original petition of the people to be set off a society, 
 by James P. Little. 
 
 Historical Sketch, — The Pastors of the Church, by Rev. F. D. 
 Avery. 
 
 HYMN. 
 
 Tune, Exhortation. 
 
 1. Let saints below in concert sing, 
 
 "With those to glory gone : 
 For all the servants of our King, 
 In earth and heaven are one. 
 
 2. One family we dwell in him, 
 
 One church above, beneath, 
 Though now divided by the stream. 
 The narrow stream of death : 
 10
 
 78 
 
 3. One army of the living God, 
 
 To his command we bow ; 
 Part of the host have crossed the flood, 
 And part are crossing now. 
 
 4. Some to their everlasting home, 
 
 This solemn moment fly ; 
 And we are to the margin come, 
 And soon expect to die. 
 
 5. Lord Jesus be our constant guide; 
 
 And, when the word is given, 
 Bid death's cold flood its waves divide. 
 And land us safe in heaven. 
 
 Historical Paper, — Meeting Houses, by J. S. Yeomans. 
 Recess to partake of collation. 
 
 AFTERNOON. 
 
 Historical Papers, — Education, Music, and Miscellaneous, by J. S. 
 Yeomans. 
 
 HTMN. 
 
 Tune, Bridgewater. 
 
 1. The Saviour, when to heaven he rose, 
 In splendid triumph o'er his foes, 
 Scattered his gifts on men below. 
 And wide his royal bounties flow. 
 
 2. Hence sprung the apostles* honored name, 
 Sacred beyond heroic fame : 
 
 In lowlier forms to bless our eyes, 
 Pastors from hence, and teachers rise. 
 
 3. So shall the bright succession run. 
 Through the last courses of the sun ; 
 While unborn churches, by their care. 
 Shall rise and flourish, large and fair. 
 
 4. Jesus, our Lord, their hearts shall know, 
 The spring whence all these blessings flow ; 
 Pastors and people shout his praise, 
 Through the long round of endless days. 
 
 i
 
 I 
 
 79 
 
 Ministers raised in the Parish, by Rev. F. D. Avert. 
 
 Address, — Reminiscences of Columbia, by Rev. C. Little, of 
 "Woodbury. 
 
 Address, by Rev. "W. H. Moore, of Berlin. 
 
 HYMN. 
 
 Tune, Coronation. 
 
 1. All hail the power of Jesus' name ! 
 
 Let angels prostrate fall ; 
 Bring forth the royal diadem, 
 And crown him Lord of all. 
 
 2. Crown him, ye martyrs of our God, 
 
 Who from his altar call ; 
 Hail him who saves you by his blood, 
 And crown him Lord of all. 
 
 3. Sinners, whose love can ne'er forget, 
 
 The wormwood and the gall, — 
 Go, spread your trophies at his feet. 
 And crown him Lord of all. 
 
 4. Let every kindred, every tribe. 
 
 On this terrestrial ball. 
 To him all majesty ascribe. 
 And crown him Lord of all. 
 
 Historical Papers, — The Deacons, — Moor's Lidian Charity School, 
 by Rev. F. D. Avery. 
 
 Voluntary ; Anthem, — Before Jehovah's awful throne. 
 
 Poems, by Doctor O. B. Lyman, of Hartford. 
 
 Remarks by Rev. Mr. Pike, of Marlborough. 
 
 Remarks, by Rev. S. G. Willard, of Willimantic, and Rev. F. 
 Williams, of Chaplin. 
 
 Prayer, by Rev. F. Williams, of Chaplin. 
 
 DOXOLOGY. 
 
 Praise God from whom all blessings flow ! 
 Praise Him, all creatures here below ! 
 Praise Him above, ye heavenly host: 
 Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. 
 
 BENEDICTION.
 
 80 
 
 At a meeting of the Church, held October 26th, 1866, it was voted 
 that the Exercises of the Celebration be published, and 
 John S. Yeomans, 
 Samuel F. West, and 
 Rev. F. D. Avert, 
 were appointed a committee to superintend the publication. 
 
 At a meeting of the Ecclesiastical Society, held October 27th, 1866, 
 it was voted that the Society committee, consisting of 
 AsHER K. Fuller, 
 Horatio W. Little, and 
 John A. Hutchins, 
 act with the committee appointed by the Church upon the matter of 
 the publication. 
 
 THE COLLATION. 
 Owing to the lateness of the season it became necessary that the 
 Collation should be dispensed at the Town Hall. And through the 
 untiring energy of the committee whose business it was to arrange 
 this portion of the exercises, it was made one of the attractions of the 
 day. This committee at oue of their meetings appointed a sub-com- 
 mittee to assist in the distribution of the refreshments, consisting of 
 the following named persons : 
 
 Charles H. Clark, Miss Sophia C. Yeomans, 
 
 James L. Downer, Miss Emily J. Little, 
 
 Mrs. Silas H. Dewey, Miss Esther Hutchins, 
 
 Mrs. Charles H. Clark, Miss Emily A. Wright, 
 
 Mrs. William H. Yeomans, Miss Amelia J. Fuller, 
 Mrs. Henry G. Woodworth, Miss Mary D. Little, 
 Mrs. Daniel T. Fuller, Miss Mary Daniels. 
 
 According to request, at an early hour of the day of the celebration, 
 the good things, requisite to sate the appetite, began to flow in from 
 all parts of the town, which continued until all the space apportioned 
 to that purpose was literally filled to overflowing ; so that the commit- 
 tee were enabled to make a " Bill of Fare," consisting of the following : 
 Cold Tongue, Baked Lamb, (stuffed,) Sandwiches, Wheat Bread, 
 Fruit Cake, Silver Cake, Cookies, Apple Pie, Cream Pie, Apples, 
 Sliced Beef Ham, Cold Chicken, Biscuit, Loaf Cake, Gold Cake, 
 Cup Cakes, Fried Cakes, Mince Pie, Corn Starch Pie, Baked Apples, 
 Coffee.
 
 81 • 
 
 Much of the cake was beautifully trimmed, showing the artistic 
 taste of the ladies of 1866. The tables were also decorated with 
 bouquets of flowers. As the hour of repast arrived, the citizens and 
 strangers repaired to the hall, preceded by the President and Clergy- 
 men present, where after order was restored, a blessing was invoked 
 by Rev. William J. Jennings, of North Coventry, and the wants of 
 the inner man were bountifully supplied. 
 
 The fragments remaining, were distributed among the needy; 
 thereby filling their hearts with thankfulness, that it was put into the 
 minds of the people, to celebrate the one hundred and fiftieth anniver- 
 sary of the formation of the Church and Society of Columbia. 
 
 COPT OF ORIGINAL PETITION OF THE PEOPLE TO BE SET 
 OFF A SOCIETY. 
 
 To y® inhabitants of Lebanon the humble petition of us whose 
 Names are under written inhabiting at a place called the crank and at 
 Hop river and ajacent to y* crank with some others that have a right 
 of land near sd Crank. Humbly showeth that whereas the providence 
 of God who bounds our habitations hath so ordered our settlement in 
 the world so remote from y® publick worship of God, which we and 
 ours stand in great need of w" by Reason of y^ Remoteness of the place 
 of worship, which way ever we goe, that there are but few of our fam- 
 ilies can constantly attend and we being got to such a number of fami- 
 leys that are here and preparing to come among us that we hope that 
 in case you that are our fathers, breathren & Christian friends in Leb- 
 anon would be pleased to grant us with y'' accommodation of part of 
 y'= land in the Township of Lebanon w" we might have y° worship of 
 God set up among us in some short time w'= we hope, we greatly desire 
 & shall indeaver after, according as y" providence of God shall lead in 
 that matter ; and we hope and are confident that you would do for us 
 w' you can that may be reasonable for to incorage & promote so good 
 a work. We therefore desire and intreat you who are our fathers, 
 brethren and Christian friends in s'' Lebanon to consider our case & 
 do what you can conveniently to promote such a good work & sot out 
 to us for y® promoting of a sociaty heare, as much of your Township 
 as may be incoueging for y° same. We dont here pretend to be our 
 owne carvers but desire and request of you that a line may be run
 
 82 
 
 from y" North Pond the westerly line of y* five mile to y* great Cheast- 
 nutt tree on Cheastnutt Hil, which is the Northerly corner of y* five 
 mile ; then to turn eastward in the line of y* five mile to y^ southarly 
 branch of ten mile brook so down by y' brook as the brook runs to 
 (the) y' eastward part of y*^ town bounds to be, to incorieg the above 
 sd sociaty, but in case you canot comply with y* above sd line takeing 
 in all the Land in y^ town bounds towards hebron & windham we then 
 desire your compliance, in any other line that you may se cause to 
 afford us for y* incorieging so good a work ; we also desire and crave 
 your holys with respect of gaining in to y^ Township that land lying 
 between Lebanon bounds & Coventry or so much of it as you may 
 judge nesesary for to obtain y* end above sd; and it seems needful that 
 there be speedy care taken about those of us that live out of y" bounds 
 of Lebanon that they be brought into the bounds, for we understand in 
 case nothing be propounded to further & promote y^ motion above sd, 
 that our friends at Coventry do intend to petition the Generall Court 
 that such of us as are out of y* bounds of Lebanon might be annexed 
 to Coventry, & if it be once don their may be aboundance of more 
 difficulty in bringing about the designe above sd, and further, seince it 
 is so that we or y* most of us must attend it & we be thereby forc*^ to 
 do it we pray that we may be freed from paying to y* ministery in 
 Lebanon ; and also that provided we are incorieged in so good a work 
 as y® settling of a sosiaty heare that we in a short time be at Charge 
 towards y* settling of a minister heare by building, breaking up of 
 Land & forming of it in that we thereby may incorieg a minister to 
 settle among us ; we then desire our publick taxes as to town charges 
 might be also Released to us all, w," we hope you will Readaly Grant 
 to us your Humble petitioners ; and in so doing you will greatly oblige 
 us who are your friends & Neighbours. 
 
 Leb°, february ye 28th, 1714-15. 
 
 Richard Mason, Josiah Loomis, Jr., Benjamin Woodworth, Charles 
 Dowolf, Josiah Loomis, Henry Woodworth, Benony Clark, Ebenezer 
 Richardson, Ezekiell Woodworth, Isaac Tilden, Joseph Clark, Ephraim 
 Sprague, Benj" Woodworth, Jr., Sam" Wright, John Sweetland, Josiah 
 Lyman, Thomas Porter, Ebenezer Woodworth, Joseph Fowler, 
 Ephraim Tupper, Caleb Loomis, Benja" Small, Nath" Dewey, Thomas 
 Woodward.
 
 83 
 
 April the 26th, 1715, at a Legal! town Meting of y* inhabitance of 
 Lebanon they then granted the petition of y^ people at y® Crank either 
 to be a sosiaty by themselves or a township according as the honoured 
 Courte shall see cause to incorieg either for a sosiaty or a township, 
 allways provided that y^ town Reserve to y"" selves all y* Right of 
 Land in sd tract, both alottments & Comon Right as to y^, for y® land 
 & also exept petitionning for an adition between Coventry & Lebanon, 
 and also provided there be no publick taxes Layd on y^ Land untill 
 y* Land be improved as y® Law directs & also whereas the petitioners 
 to h* all the land on the westerly side of y* five mile it is agreed & we 
 do alow they shall goe southwards on y* west side of y® five mile, so 
 far as Hebron Road from Lebanon ; likewise provided they pay pub- 
 lick taxes to y^ town untill they have liberty & incoriegement from 
 the Generall Courte to be a sosiaty or township by themselves, the 
 above written was voted by the town ; at the same time Stephen Til- 
 den, Joseph Owen, John Huchison, Joseph Hutchinson, Joseph Owen, 
 Jun., & Moses Owen, all entered their protest against the above sd 
 vote. 
 
 COPY OF A RATE BILL FOR THE NORTH PARISH OF LEBA- 
 NON, (NOW COLUMBIA,) FOR THE YEAR 1741, TO PAY 
 THE SALARY OF REV. ELEAZER WHEELOCK. 
 
 The Sume total of this Reat Bill | is £380-16-09 made for the De- 
 fra I ing the Neserary Charges In y* North | Parish in Lebanon 
 Atested by us in | y® year 1741 J 
 
 EliakimTupper,)(.^^^^^ 
 John jNewcomb, ) 
 
 To Joseph Paine, Collector of | Raits for y® North Parish in | Leb- 
 anon this are to order you | to Collect and Geather this Raite | of 
 Each man his Portion as is set | Down in this Reate Bill and | you 
 are to Geather it by y* | first day of January Next | and you ai-e to 
 Pay it unto y* | Reved M' Eleazer Wheelock y*' | Sume of 290 by 
 y* first Day of | January next and y^ Rest of y" | money you are to 
 Pay unto M'' John | Sims by y" Same time and this | Shall be your 
 order December \ y^ 14 AD. 1741. 
 
 Eliakim Tupper, ) ^^^.^^^ 
 John Newcomb, ) 
 
 The Sum total of this Rate bill Except y« | Dooms if I Cast Right 
 is £324-19-0 I Test. E. Wheelock.
 
 84 
 
 
 £ s. d. 
 
 Benj: Fuler 
 
 3 01 01 
 
 Samuel Allen 
 
 4 02 11 
 
 Amos Fuller 
 
 2 
 
 05 09 
 
 Robert Avery 
 
 1 19 10 
 
 Benj: Fuller, Ju': 
 
 1 
 
 01 H 
 
 Joshua Allan, Jur. 
 
 2 01 08 
 
 Amos Fuller, Jun' 
 
 
 
 16 08 
 
 Joshua Allen 
 
 1 07 02 
 
 Jeremiah Futer 
 
 
 
 18 05 
 
 John Allen 
 
 1 19 06 
 
 Noah FuUer 
 
 
 
 18 05 
 
 Samu' Allen, Jun. 
 
 17 06 
 
 Henry Glover 
 
 3 
 
 01 11 
 
 Samu' Buckengham 
 
 4 14 06 
 
 William Gager 
 
 2 
 
 15 06 
 
 Jeams Brigs 
 
 3 02 01 
 
 Samuel Guilds 
 
 1 
 
 15 10 
 
 Jeams Bill 
 
 3 15 08 
 
 John Gibbs 
 
 3 
 
 05 05 
 
 Samuel Breuster 
 
 3 01 03 
 
 Henry Glover, Jun' 
 
 1 
 
 15 00 
 
 Benj: Ball 
 
 1 17 05 
 
 Samuel Guilds, Juner 
 
 
 
 19 09 
 
 Saxton Baly 
 
 2 05 10 
 
 Ebenezer Gray, Esqure 
 
 
 
 07 05 
 
 Jedediah Bill 
 
 17 06 
 
 Samuel Hatchenson 
 
 1 
 
 01 08 
 
 Philip Bill 
 
 3 01 00 
 
 Nathanel House 
 
 2 
 
 08 00 
 
 Elisha Bill 
 
 18 05 
 
 Israel Guilds 
 
 2 
 
 07 00 
 
 Ebenezer Ball 
 
 15 09 
 
 Walter Harris 
 
 2 
 
 09 00 
 
 Joseph Clark 
 
 7 10 01 
 
 Nathaniel Hide 
 
 
 
 06 00 
 
 Benony Clark 
 
 4 15 00 
 
 Eleazer Hutchenson 
 
 4 07 08 
 
 Nehemiah Clason 
 
 2 18 08 
 
 Stephen Hutchenson 
 
 2 
 
 09 01 
 
 Beenj: Collins 
 
 4 18 00 
 
 Jo" hutchenson 
 
 2 
 
 00 00 
 
 Solomon Curtis 
 
 3 02 10 
 
 Tim: Hutchenson 
 
 2 
 
 02 04 
 
 Dudatus Curtis 
 
 15 09 
 
 Abel Hole Brook 
 
 1 
 
 13 05 
 
 Nathaniel Curtis 
 
 13 08 
 
 Nathaniel House, Ju' 
 
 2 
 
 00 01 
 
 Joen Claseon 
 
 1 05 15 
 
 Stephen hunt 
 
 2 
 
 02 09 
 
 Nathan Claseon 
 
 18 05 
 
 WiUim: Hunt 
 
 2 
 
 17 07 
 
 Danel Church 
 
 00 06 
 
 John house 
 
 1 
 
 14 02 
 
 Eleazer Curtis 
 
 18 05 
 
 Samul House 
 
 1 
 
 01 06 
 
 John Dogit 
 
 3 09 02 
 
 Gideon House 
 
 
 
 15 09 
 
 John Damond 
 
 2 05 11 
 
 Nathanel knap 
 
 
 
 07 00 
 
 Henry Dyre 
 
 1 17 01 
 
 Richard Lyman 
 
 2 
 
 16 01 
 
 Joseph Davis 
 
 1 14 01 
 
 Josiah Lyman 
 
 3 
 
 08 02 
 
 Nathaniel Dewey 
 
 05 01 
 
 Joseph Loomis, 
 
 1 
 
 14 00 
 
 Sam' Dunham 
 
 1 01 13 
 
 Benony Loomis 
 
 1 
 
 05 05 
 
 Sam' Dewey 
 
 02 11 
 
 Nathanel Lomis 
 
 1 
 
 09 07 
 
 John Damond, Jun"^ 
 
 1 01 11 
 
 Caleb Loomis 
 
 1 
 
 14 05 
 
 Jonathan Dewey 
 
 1 02 09 
 
 Tomas Lyman 
 
 2 
 
 03 01 
 
 Joseph Dewey 
 
 1 14 09 
 
 David Lyman 
 
 1 
 
 07 09 
 
 Moses Dewey 
 
 15 09 
 
 John Loomis 
 
 
 
 12 03 
 
 Richard English 
 
 2 01 02 
 
 Danel Lee 
 
 1 
 
 10 08 
 
 John English 
 
 1 01 00 
 
 Ephraim Loomis 
 
 1 
 
 01 00
 
 Ichabod Maxfield 
 
 1 
 
 07 02 
 
 Isaac Merit 
 
 1 
 
 13 01 
 
 Peter mesusan 
 
 
 
 16 08 
 
 Linsford moiy 
 
 2 
 
 11 07 
 
 , John Newcomb 
 
 5 
 
 11 02 
 
 Samuel Negus 
 
 2 
 
 06 05 
 
 Eddy Newcomb 
 
 1 
 
 06 03 
 
 Josiah Owen 
 
 
 
 19 03 
 
 Thomas Porter 
 
 4 
 
 18 00 
 
 Joseph Paine 
 
 3 
 
 16 02 
 
 John Porter 
 
 3 
 
 11 06 
 
 Josiah Phiny 
 
 2 
 
 17 11 
 
 Jeams Pinno 
 
 3 
 
 04 01 
 
 Samuel Porter 
 
 2 
 
 05 07 
 
 Jeames Pease 
 
 2 
 
 08 03 
 
 Joseph Pinno 
 
 
 
 18 05 
 
 Samuel Parker 
 
 2 
 
 13 02 
 
 Joshua Phinney 
 
 1 
 
 09 04 
 
 William Phinney 
 
 1 
 
 00 03 
 
 John Pitkin 
 
 
 
 05 07 
 
 Israel Post 
 
 
 
 12 03 
 
 Phineas Post 
 
 3 
 
 03 00 
 
 Amos Randal 
 
 1 
 
 14 10 
 
 David Royce 
 
 1 
 
 08 11 
 
 mathew Royce 
 
 i 
 
 18 09 
 
 Epliraim Sprague 
 
 4 
 
 04 11 
 
 John Sims 
 
 4 
 
 08 05 
 
 John SoUard 
 
 3 
 
 01 00 
 
 Jolm Swet Land 
 
 3 
 
 17 11 
 
 Pxmj: Smaley 
 
 5 
 
 00 02 
 
 John Sims, Junr. 
 
 2 
 
 08 08 
 
 William Sims 
 
 2 
 
 07 07 
 
 Peleg Spraug 
 
 
 
 18 05 
 
 Perez Sprang 
 
 2 
 
 00 08 
 
 william Swift 
 
 2 
 
 09 00 
 
 Joseph Smaley 
 
 2 
 
 00 03 
 
 George Sims 
 
 1 
 
 09 09 
 
 J(jlin Sprauge 
 
 
 
 02 10 
 
 l>enj: Swet Land 
 
 1 
 
 02 09 
 
 John Sweet Land, Jun"" 
 
 1 
 
 08 02 
 
 1 11 
 
 
 
 85 
 
 Joseph Swet Land 2 12 02 
 
 Elijah Sprauge 1 15 11 
 
 Jeams Smalley 2 01 02 
 
 Eliakim Tupper 3 16 08 
 
 Stephen Tuttle 1 08 02 
 
 Jeams tuttle 19 08 
 
 Elias Tupper 1 03 08 
 
 Ebenezer Tomas 05 03 
 
 Ezekel Tomas 2 19 05 
 
 William Vallence 1 17 05 
 
 Henry woodward 4 05 09 
 
 Nathanel white 4 13 05 
 
 Thomas wooward 3 02 09 
 
 Ebenezer woodwarth 4 19 04 
 
 Benj: woodwarth 2 14 06 
 
 Ichabod woodworth 3 16 00 
 
 Amos woodwarth 2 03 04 
 
 Ezekel woodwarth 2 03 10 
 
 Samuel woodward 2 07 03 
 
 Israel woodward 3 19 09 
 
 Jeams Wright 2 07 00 
 
 Thomas white 1 04 02 
 
 Noah Webster 1 15 05 
 
 Preserved wright 2 04 03 
 
 Ebenezer woodwarth, Jr. 1 01 00 
 
 Nathanel wright 1 11 00 
 
 Ebenezer wright 1 00 00 
 
 Samuel wright 2 04 06 
 
 Benony wright 1 02 09 
 
 Henry woodward, Juner. 13 09 
 
 Ebenezer Richardson 4 16 01 
 
 Youngs 03 07 
 
 Noah Dewey 1 19 01 
 Philip Bill his Doome 
 
 Rate for Estate not 
 
 Given in 03 00 
 Captin Buckengham is 
 
 Doomed for Plstate 
 
 not Given hi 1111
 
 MEMBEES OF THE OHUECH, 
 Janxiary, 1867. 
 
 Kev. Frederick D. Avery, ) 
 Mrs. Charlotte M. Avery, \ 
 " Lucina C. Armstrong, 
 " Lucretia B. Avery, 
 " Sally E. Abell. 
 
 Mrs. Sophia Barstow, 
 Henry W. BueU, > 
 
 Mrs. Nancy Buell, | 
 " Harriet E. Button, 
 Charlotte J. Brown, 
 Alice L. Brown, 
 Fannie W. Bascom. 
 
 William ColKns, > 
 
 Mrs. Roxana Collins, ^ 
 Joseph Clark, 7 
 
 Mrs. Margaret Clark, ]" 
 " Mary Clark, 
 
 Lyman C. Clark, } 
 
 Mrs. Cynthia Clark, ^ 
 Willard B. Clark, } 
 
 Mrs. Lucy F. Clark, ^ 
 Charles H. Clark, ) 
 
 Mrs. Caroline O. Clark, y 
 " Clarissa Clark, 
 Samuel A. Collins, 
 William A. Collins, 
 Jane A. Collins,, 
 Louisa Chenery. 
 
 Eleazer Dewey, 
 Dea. Lorenzo W. Dewey, ) 
 Mrs. Lucy Dewey, y 
 
 Elmore G. Dewey, } 
 Mrs. Elizabeth C. Dewey, \ 
 
 Silas H. Dewey, 
 Mrs. Nancy M. Dewey, 
 " Sarah A. Dewey, 
 
 Catharine A. Dewey. 
 
 Jonathan C. Fuller, 7 
 Mrs. Nancy A. Fuller, f 
 
 Charles R. Fuller, ) 
 Mrs. Sophia Fuller, \ 
 
 Amasa B. Fuller, \ 
 Mrs. Minerva A. Fuller, y 
 
 Alanson H. Fuller, ) 
 Mrs. Mary L. Fuller, \ 
 
 Asher K. Fuller, 7 
 Mrs. Caroline A. Fuller, y 
 
 George B. Fuller, 7 
 Mrs. Jane E. Fuller, | 
 
 Daniel T. Fuller, ) 
 Mrs. M. Amelia Fuller, ^ 
 " Naomi Fuller, 
 
 Gilbert Fuller, 
 
 Wealthy Fuller, 
 
 Orrilla Fuller, 
 
 Amelia J. Fuller, 
 
 Ozro D. Fuller. 
 
 Mrs. Mindwell Holbrook, 
 " Elizabeth M. Hunt, 
 " Nancy Holbrook, 
 " Betsey A. Hunt, 
 « Sarah B. Hunt, 
 " Eliza F. Hutchins, 
 " Jane Holbrook, 
 " Eliza Hartson, 
 " EUzabeth J. Holbrook, 
 Anson Holbrook, 
 Olivia Holbrook, 
 John A. Hutchins, > 
 
 Mrs. Gertrude M. Hutchins, \ 
 
 Joseph Hutchins, 
 Mra. Lucy W. Holt, 
 Esther Hutchins, 
 Eliza A. Hutchins, 
 Alice M. Holbrook, 
 L. Huldah Holbrook, 
 Ellen E. Holbrook, 
 Lucy J. Holbrook. 
 
 Shubael S. Ishara, 7 
 Mrs. Mary A. Isham. y 
 
 Dea. Benjamin Lyman, 
 
 " Chester W. Lyman 
 Mrs. Cornelia E. Lyman
 
 87 
 
 Mrs. Sophia Lyman, 
 Mrs. Nancy Little, 
 
 Norman Little, 
 
 Benjamin W. Lyman, 
 Mrs. Wealthy Lit^e, 
 
 Lydia Lyman, 
 
 Lucina W. Lyman, 
 
 Samuel Little, 
 
 William B. Little, > 
 Mrs. Harriet P. Little, ( 
 
 Horatio W. Little, 
 Mrs. Esther E. Little 
 
 le,> 
 
 David D. Little, 
 
 Mrs. Maria J. Little, ^ 
 Norman P. Little, ) 
 
 Mrs. Mary Ann Little, ^ 
 Giles Little, ) 
 
 Mrs. Cynthia A. Little, \ 
 James P. Little, 
 Emily J. Little, 
 Hubert Little, 
 Myron W. Litde, 
 Samuel E. Lyman, > 
 
 Mrs. Fannie C. Lyman, J 
 Alfred W. Lyman, ) 
 
 Mrs. Elizabeth C. Lyman, ) 
 Charlotte H. Little, 
 Mary D. Little, 
 Henry E. Lyman, 
 Chester B. Lyman. 
 
 Mrs. Sally Manley, 
 " Martha G. Mcintosh, 
 George W. Morgan, 
 Adelaide M. Morgan. 
 
 Mrs. Harriet Nye. 
 
 Mary J. Osborne. 
 
 Mrs. Saxsy Perry, 
 " Clarissa F. Porter, 
 Augustus Post, ) 
 
 Mrs. Betsey G. Post, \ 
 " Harriet J. Pago, 
 
 Dr. Moses H. Perkins, ? 
 
 Mrs. Jane Perkins, ) 
 
 Albert F. Preston, > 
 Mrs. Mary A. Preston, ^ 
 
 Leandcr Richardson, ) 
 Mrs. Mary A. Richardson, ^ 
 
 Erving L. Richardson, 
 
 James H. Richardson, ) 
 Mrs. Elizabeth T. Richardson, J 
 
 Elizur F. Reed, ) 
 Mrs. Harriet A. Reed. \ 
 
 Samuel Sawyer, 7 
 
 Mrs. Amanda B. Sawyer, ) 
 Clara E. Sawyer. 
 
 Mrs. Esther P. Tickner, 
 Sarah E. Tucker. 
 
 Lydia West, 
 
 George Wright, > 
 Mrs. Mersha M. Wright, ^ 
 
 Samuel F. West, > 
 Mrs. Charlotte P. West, \ 
 
 Asahel O. Wright, ) 
 Mrs. Lovisa Wright, \ 
 
 Madison Woodward, 7 
 Mrs. Harriet L. Woodward, ^ 
 
 George M. Woodward, > 
 Mrs. Emeline E.Woodward, ^ 
 
 Warren S. Worth, ) 
 Mrs. Mary L. Worth, > 
 " Jerusha C. Williams, 
 
 Emily C Williams, 
 
 George A. Williams, 
 Mrs. Ellen M. Wood worth, 
 
 Mary N. West, 
 
 Emily A. Wright. 
 
 John S. Yeomans, | 
 ' Mrs. Sophia C. Yeomans, J 
 Frederick Yeomans, > 
 Mrs. Janctte Yeomans, | 
 " Seba Yeomans, 
 " Harriet R. Yeomans, 
 Samuel D. Yeomans, 
 Sophia C. Yeomans, 
 L. Maria l^omans.
 
 CATALOGUE OF 
 
 MEMBERS OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL SOCIETY, COLUMBIA, 
 
 January 1, 1867. 
 
 Henry W. Buell, 
 Albert Brown, 
 William Collins, 
 Orren Clark, 
 Chester Clark, 
 Joseph Clark, 
 Lyman C. Clark, 
 Willard B. Clark, 
 Charles H. Clark, 
 Lorenzo W. Dewey, 
 Eleazer Dewey, 
 Elmore G. Dewey, 
 Silas H. Dewey, 
 Amasa B. Fuller, 
 Alanson H. Fuller, 
 Daniel T. Fuller, 
 Asher K. Fuller, 
 Charles R. Fuller, 
 George B. Fuller, 
 Simon Hunt, 
 Amasa A. Hunt, 
 Anson Holbrook, 
 Silas A. HoMkrook, 
 Charles Holbrook, 
 John A. Hutchins, 
 Shubael S. Isham, 
 
 Benjamin Lyman, 
 Chester W. Ljnnan, 
 Alfred W. Lyman, 
 Samuel E. Lyman, 
 Henry E. Lyman, 
 William B. Little, 
 Giles Little, 
 Norman Little, 
 David D. Little, 
 James P. Little, 
 Horatio W. Little, 
 Samuel Little, 
 Norman P. Little, 
 George W. Morgan, 
 Albert F. Preston, 
 James H. Richardson, 
 Leander Richardson, 
 Samuel Sawyer, 
 Andrew P, Utley, 
 Samuel F. West, 
 Madison Woodward, 
 George Wright, 
 Asahel O. Wright, 
 George M. Woodward, 
 Samuel B. West, 
 John S. Yeomans.
 
 89 
 
 THE FOLLOWING TABLE HAS BEEN PUKNISHED BY REV. 
 MR. MOORE. 
 
 Year. 
 
 Mem. 
 
 Added by 
 
 Removed 
 
 by 
 
 In. 
 Bap. 
 
 Ben. Cont. 
 
 
 Prof. 
 
 Let. 
 
 Tot'l. 
 
 Dth. 
 
 Dis. 
 
 Tot'l. 
 
 
 1831 
 
 155 
 
 41 
 
 1 
 
 42 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 
 1882 
 
 149 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 
 1833 
 
 146 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 
 1834 
 
 142 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 
 1835 
 
 138 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 7 
 
 
 
 7 
 
 
 
 
 1836 
 
 140 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 1837 
 
 138 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 
 1838 
 
 132 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 5 
 
 2 
 
 7 
 
 
 
 
 1839 
 
 122 
 
 6 
 
 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 7 
 
 $153.03 
 
 1840 
 
 121 
 
 2 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 
 1841 
 
 138 
 
 22 
 
 3 
 
 25 
 
 4 
 
 4 
 
 8 
 
 3 
 
 228.14 
 
 1842 
 
 136 
 
 6 
 
 1 
 
 7 
 
 5 
 
 2 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 198.02 
 
 1843 
 
 137 
 
 1 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 
 6 
 
 9 
 
 188.04 
 
 1844 
 
 132 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 5 
 
 2 
 
 7 
 
 5 
 
 200.54 
 
 1845 
 
 137 
 
 3 
 
 6 
 
 9 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 4 
 
 4 
 
 326.91 
 
 1846 
 
 136 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 4 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 5 
 
 5 
 
 
 1847 
 
 137 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 
 1848 
 
 133 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 5 
 
 2 
 
 7 
 
 3 
 
 
 1849 
 
 120 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 3 
 
 7 
 
 3 
 
 
 1850 
 
 118 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 4 
 
 1 
 
 4 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 
 1851 
 
 120 
 
 7 
 
 1 
 
 8 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 6 
 
 4 
 
 138.65 
 
 1852 
 
 118 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 5 
 
 1 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 2 
 
 151.98 
 
 1853 
 
 116 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 146.70 
 
 1854 
 
 139 
 
 26 
 
 
 
 26 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 6 
 
 145.00 
 
 1855 
 
 139 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 12 
 
 125.68 
 
 1856 
 
 132 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 3 
 
 7 
 
 5 
 
 156.47 
 
 1857 
 
 130 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 6 
 
 135.87 
 
 1858 
 
 143 
 
 16 
 
 1 
 
 17 
 
 
 
 4 
 
 4, 
 
 5 
 
 136.00 
 
 1859 
 
 140 
 
 1 
 
 
 
 1 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 4 
 
 2 
 
 142.00 
 
 1860 
 
 142 
 
 3 
 
 2 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 1 
 
 4 
 
 4 
 
 165.6G 
 
 1861 
 
 135 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 7 
 
 
 
 7 
 
 3 
 
 115.94 
 
 1862 
 
 117 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 5 
 
 8 
 
 1 
 
 143.65 
 
 1863 
 
 114 
 
 
 
 2 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 6 
 
 2 
 
 143.34 
 
 1864 
 
 113 
 
 3 
 
 7 
 
 10 
 
 1 
 
 5 
 
 6 
 
 4 
 
 174.82 
 
 1865 
 
 132 
 
 22 
 
 
 
 22 
 
 1 
 
 2 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 209.82 
 
 1866 
 
 130 
 
 
 
 3 
 
 3 
 
 5 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 3 
 
 221.12 
 
 1867 
 
 169 
 
 36 
 
 3 
 
 39 
 
 
 
 

 
 90 
 
 LETTER FROM REV. ASA D. SMITH, D. D., PRESIDENT OF 
 DARTMOUTH COLLEGE, NEW HAMPSHIRE. 
 
 Dartmouth College, Hanovee, N. H., Oct. 22, 1866. 
 
 Rev. F. D. Avert : 
 
 Dear Sir : 
 
 I very much regret that it will be out of my 
 power to be present at the approaching anniversary of your church. 
 Had I known of the occasion somewhat earlier, the case might have 
 been different ; but as it is, engagements, which I cannot set aside, 
 will keep me here. 
 
 I feel the power of the associations to which you turn my thoughts. 
 A visit to the place where sprung into being Dartmouth College, 
 would be like tracing the source of some beautiful, fertilizing river to 
 its source among the distant mountains. It would give me a new 
 impression of the great issues which may come from small beginnings. 
 I should have a new impulse in my woi'k, a fresh assurance that the 
 same good Providence which has guided this Institution from the 
 first, will make its future worthy of its noble past. I could add little 
 to the interest of the occasion, but I esteem it a loss to myself that I 
 cannot be with you. 
 
 Accept my thanks for the courtesy of your letter, and believe me, 
 Yours, very fraternally and truly, 
 
 ASA D. SMITH. 
 
 LETTER FROM GOVERNOR BUCKENGnAM. 
 
 Norwich, Conn., Oct. 19, 1866. 
 
 Rev. F. D. Avery, Columbia : 
 
 My Deal- Sir : 
 
 I thank you for your invitation to be pres- 
 ent at the celebration of the 150th Anniversary of your church, and 
 should accept the same, if I had not an engagement which will detain 
 me nearly all of next week in New York. I assure you that I feel 
 a deep interest in all that pertains to the history and prosperity of 
 Lebanon, in its former boundaries, and in all her churches. The 
 good seed which has been sown for a century and a half has produced
 
 91 
 
 a valuable harvest in your immediate vicinity ; but I doubt not that 
 the fruit which is unseen, and that which has matured in other parts 
 of our country, is vastly richer than that which is seen. 
 With high regard, 
 
 I am your obedient servant, 
 
 WM. A. BUCKINGHAM. 
 
 LETTEE FROM REV. DANIEL HUNT, POMFRET, CONN. 
 
 Rev. F. D. AvEEY : 
 
 Dear Brother : 
 
 I return my hearty thanks to you and the committee 
 for your invitation to attend the approaching anniversary of the form- 
 ation of the church and society in Columbia. It would afford me 
 great pleasure to be present on the occasion, which I trust will be one 
 of great interest and satisfaction to all the sons and daughters of that 
 ancient precinct of Lebanon, "The Crank." The early history of the 
 place Avas honorable. Distinguished men dwelt there. Shining 
 characters were born and reared there, and went forth to bless the 
 world by their labors. And God has never forgotten his church in 
 that place, though it has often been in great affliction and peril. Zion 
 stands and rejoices there still, and the spirit of Wheelock and Brock- 
 way lingers within the gates, which is always a comfort for me to 
 think of. 
 
 It is not likely that I can be present on the occasion ; or if such a 
 thing should be, it would not be well for you to depend on me for any 
 service; for I am nothing now, and, as you know, "exnihilo nihil fit." 
 
 Yours truly, 
 
 D. HUNT. 
 PoMFRET, July 18, 1866
 
 92 
 
 NOTE A. 
 
 LETTER OF THE PARISH TO REV. E. WHEELOCK, D. D., RELA- 
 TING TO THE LOCATION OF THE CHARITY SCHOOL. 
 
 "At a legal and full meeting of the Inhabitants, legal voters of the 
 second society in Lebanon, [Now Columbia,] in Connecticut, held in 
 said society on the 29th day of June, Anno Domini 1767, "We made 
 choice of Mr. James Pinneo to be moderator of said meeting, and 
 passed the following votes, nemine confradicente. 
 
 1. That we desire the Indian Charity School now under the care of 
 the Rev. Mr. Eleazer Wheelock, may be fixed to continue in this soci- 
 ety; provided it may consist with the interest and prosperity of said 
 School. 
 
 2. That as we have a large and convenient house for public and 
 divine Worship; we will accommodate the members of said school 
 with such convenient seats in said house as we shall be able. 
 
 3. That the following letter be presented to the Rev. Mr. Eleazer 
 Wheelock, by Messrs. Israel Woodward, James Pinneo, and Asahel 
 Clark, in the name and behalf of this society; and that they desire him 
 to transmit a copy of the same, with the votes foregoing, to the Right 
 Honorable the Earl of Dartmouth, and the rest of those Honorable 
 and Worthy Gentlemen in England who have condescended to patron- 
 ize said school ; and to whom the establishment of the same is com- 
 mitted. 
 
 The Inhabitants of the second society in Lebanon in Connecticut to 
 the Rev. Mr. Eleazer Wheelock, Pastor of said society. 
 Rev. and dear Pastor, 
 
 As you are witness to our past care and concern for the success of 
 your most pious and charitable undei'taking in favor of the poor per- 
 ishing Indians on this continent, we are confident you will not be dis- 
 pleased at our addressing you on this occasion ; but that you would 
 rather think it strange if we should altogether hold our peace at such 
 a time as this ; when we understand it is still in doubt both with your 
 self and Friends where to fix your school ; whether at Albany or more 
 remote among the Indian Tribes, in this society whei-e it was first 
 planted, or in some other part of this colony proposed for its accom- 
 modation. 
 
 We have some of us heard most of the arguments offered for its re- 
 moval, and however plausable they appear wo are not at all convinced
 
 98 
 
 of their force, or that it is expedient, every thing considered, it should 
 be removed, nor do we think we have great reason to fear the event, 
 only we would not be wanting as to our duty in giving such hints in 
 favor of its continuance here as naturally occur to our minds, for we 
 have that confidence in you and the friends of the desire, that you will 
 hot be easily carried away with Appearances : but will critically ob- 
 serve the secret springs of those generous offers, made in one place 
 and another, (some of which are beyond what we can pretend to,) 
 whether some prospect of private emolument be not at the bottom; or 
 whether they will finally prove more kind to your pious institution as 
 such considered, (whatever their pretenses may be,) than ever have 
 been or at present appear to be to the Redeemer's Kingdom in gen- 
 eral. We trust this institution so well calculated to the advancement 
 of its interest will flourish best among the Redeemer's friends; and 
 although with respect to ourselves we have little to boast as to friend- 
 ship to our divine Redeemer or his interest, yet this we are sure of, 
 that he has been very kind to us, in times past, and we trust has made 
 you the instrument of much good to us, and to lay a foundation for it to 
 succeeding generations ; we humbly hope God has been preparing an 
 habitation for himself here, and has said of it this is my resting jilace, 
 here will I dwell forever, (not because they deserved it,) but because 
 I have desired it, and where God is pleased to dwell, under his influ- 
 ence your institution (which we trust is of him,) may Expect to live 
 and thrive. We desire it may be considered that this is its birth 
 place, here it was kindly received, and nourished when no other door 
 was set open to it — here it found friends when almost friendless, yea 
 when despised and contemned abroad — its friends are now increased 
 here as well as elsewhere, and although by reason of our poverty and 
 the hardness of the times, our subscriptions are small compared with 
 what some others may boast. Being at present but about (X)810 
 pounds lawful money yet there are here some other privileges which 
 we think very valuable and serviceable to the design, viz. 400 acres of 
 very fertile and good land, about forty acres of which are under im- 
 provement, and the remainder well set with choice timber and fuel, 
 and is suitably proportioned for the various branches of Husbandry 
 which will much accommodate the design as said land is situated 
 within about half a mile of our Meeting House, and may be purchased 
 for fifty shillings lawful money per acre. There is also several other 
 small parcels of land suitably situate for building places for the use of 
 the school to be sold at a reasonable rate. We have also a beautiful 
 building place for said school within a few rods of said meeting house, 
 12
 
 94 
 
 adjacent to which is a large and pleasant Green : and we are confident 
 that wood, provisions and clothing, &c., which will be necessary for 
 the school, may be had here not only now, but in future years at as 
 low a rate as in any place in the colony, or in any other place where 
 it has been proposed to settle your school. These privileges we think 
 are valuable and worthy your consideration, and also of those Honour- 
 able and worthy Gentlemen in England to whom you have committed 
 the design of the affair, and from the friendly disposition which has so 
 many years past and does still reign in our breasts towards it. We 
 think it may be presumed we shall from time to time be ready to min- 
 ister to its support as occasion shall require and our circumstances 
 permit. We take the liberty further to observe that such has hitherto 
 been the peace and good order (greatly through your instrumentality,) 
 obtaining among us that the members of your school have all along 
 been as free from temptations to any vicious courses or danger of fatal 
 error as perhaps might be expected they would be on any spot of this 
 Universally polluted Globe. 
 
 • Here, Dear Sir, your school has flourished remarkably. It has 
 grown apace ; from small beginnings how very considerable it has be- 
 come; an evidence that the soil and climate suit the institution — if you 
 transplant it you run a risk of stinting its growth, perhaps of destroy- 
 ing its very life, or at least of changing its nature and missing the 
 pious aim you have all along had in view ; a danger which scarce need 
 to be hinted ; as you are sensible it has been the common fate of insti- 
 tutions of this kind; that charitable Donations have been misapplied 
 and perverted to serve purposes very far from or contrary to those the 
 pious donors had in view; such is the subtilty of the old serpent that 
 he will turn all our weapons against our selves if possible. Aware of 
 this, you have all along appeared to decline and even detest all such 
 alliances and proposals as were calculated for, or seemed to promise 
 any private emolument to your self or your friends. This we trust is 
 still your prevailing temper and rejoice to hear that your friends and 
 those who are intrusted with the affair in England are exactly in the 
 same sentiments, happy presage not only of the continuance of the in- 
 stitution itself but w^ hope of its immutability as to place. One thing 
 more we beg leave to mention, (not to tire your patience with the 
 many that occur,) viz. if you remove the school from us, you at the 
 same time take away our Minister, the light of our eyes and joy of our 
 hearts, under whose ministrations we have sat with great delight; 
 whose labors have been so acceptable and we trust profitable for a 
 long time; must then our Dear and Worthy Pastor and his pious in-
 
 95 
 
 stitution go from us together ? Alas shall we be deprived of both in 
 one day? We are sensible that we have abused such privileges and 
 have forfeited them ; and at God's bar we plead guilty — we pray him 
 to give us repentance and reformation, and to lengthen out our Happy 
 State ; we own the justice of God in so heavy losses, if they must be 
 inflicted ; and even in the removal of our Candlestick out of its place, 
 but we can't bear the thought that you our Dear Pastor and the dear 
 friends to your pious institution should become the Executioners of 
 such a Vengeance. However we leave the matter with you, and are 
 with much Duty and filial regard Dear Sir, Your vei-y humble ser- 
 vants or rather Obedient Children. 
 
 By order of said Society, T Israel Wood-ward, 
 
 •< James Pinneo, 
 
 June 29th, 1767. 
 
 (AsAHEL Clark;, Jr. 
 
 NOTE B* 
 
 LETTER RECOMMENDING REV. MR. WHITAKER IN HIS 
 
 EFFORTS SOLICITING SUBSCRIPTIONS FOR MOOR'S 
 
 CHARITY SCHOOL. 
 
 Mr. Wliitaker was a man of fine talents and prepossessing appear- 
 ance. He had manifested great interest in the prosperity of Mr. 
 Wheelock's Indian School at Lebanon, and in the welfare of the Mo- 
 hegan Indians, his neighbors. On these accounts he had been selected 
 as a proper person to accompany Mr. Occom on his mission. 
 
 They carried with them a printed book containing recommendations, 
 and an exposition of the state of Indian Missions in North America. 
 Mr. Whitaker's recommendation from his church is as follows: 
 The Church of Christ at Chelsey, in Norwicli, in Conn: in New Eng- 
 land, to all the Churches of Christ, and wliomsoever it may concern, 
 send greeting: 
 
 Whereas it has pleased God in his Providence, to call our Rever- 
 end and worthy Pastor, Mr. Nathaniel Whitaker, from us for a season, 
 to go to Europe, to solicit charities for the Indian Charity Sdiool, 
 undei; the care of the Rev. Mr. Eleaz(;r Wiicelock, of Lcljanon, and to 
 promote Christian Knowledge among the Indians on this continent: 
 
 * By permission from " Caulkins' History of Norwich.
 
 96 
 
 We do unanimously recommend him, the said Mr. Whitaker and 
 his services to all the Churches and people of God, of whatever de- 
 nomination, and wheresoever he may come, as a faithful minister of 
 Jesus Christ, whose praise is in the gospel through the churches; 
 earnestly requesting brotherly kindness and charity may be extended 
 towards him as occasion may require ; and that the gi'and and impor- 
 tant cause in w^hich he is engaged, may be forwarded and promoted 
 by all the lovers of truth. 
 
 Wishing grace, mercy and truth may be multiplied to you and the 
 whole Israel of God, and desiring an interest in your prayers, we sub- 
 scribe Yours in the faith and fellowship of the gospel, 
 
 By order and in behalf) Jonathan Huntington, 
 
 said Church, ) Isiah Tiffany. 
 
 Norwich, Oct. 21 st, 1766. 
 
 The delegates were eminentl}' successful in their mission, both in 
 England and Scotland, and collected funds amounting nearly to ten 
 thousand pounds sterling. 
 
 The following letter, written by Occom from London to his daugh- 
 ters at home, is a curious example of Mohegan ingenuity : 
 
 My dear Mary and Esther — 
 
 Perhaps you may query whether I am well : I came from home 
 well, was by the way well, got over well, am received at London well, 
 and am treated extremely well, — yea, I am caress'd too well. And 
 do you pray that I may be well ; and that I may do well, and in Time 
 return Home well. And I hope you are well, and wish you Avell, and 
 as I think you begun well, so keep on well, that you may end well, 
 and then all will be well. 
 
 And so Farewell, 
 
 O-W^^-^^ iPcce^-f^
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 Santa Barbara 
 
 THIS BOOK IS DUE ON THE LAST DATE 
 STAMPED BELOW. 
 
 Series 9482